August 2008 - David Oates Testifies Before Congress

Several employees at Oates are active in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), a national engineering association representing over 5,000 firms. Our president, David Oates heads the national Transportation Committee.

David Oates, president of Oates Associates and chairman of the Transportation Committee for the American Council of Engineering Companies, testified before the House Committee on Small Business in Washington, D.C. on the importance of additional spending on infrastructure to facilitate economic growth.

Mr. Oates informed, “Additional spending on infrastructure will foster immediate job creation, but it is also important to appreciate the long-term benefits to our national economic competitiveness.”

“A safe and efficient transportation network is critical to economic growth – it reduces travel time and increases reliability, thus lowering costs and leading to greater economic productivity for businesses and ease of mobility for travelers,” Mr. Oates contended.

Environmental benefits can be attained as well. “By boosting infrastructure spending, you can take an important step toward cleaning up lakes and rivers, bringing quality water into people’s homes, fixing structurally deficient bridges, rebuilding crumbling roads and highways, adding capacity to reduce congestion, improving roadways and transit systems to enhance the safe and efficient movement of people and goods around the country.”

Mr. Oates further expounded the ramifications of inadequate funding, including deterioration, congestion, and delays, all of which jeopardize our personal safety.