Roads to readiness: Territorial infrastructure is a strategic imperative
As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prepares to advance a new surface transportation reauthorization bill, Congress faces a consequential question: Are we prepared to invest in infrastructure not only as an economic necessity, but as a pillar of U.S. national security? For those of us representing America’s territories, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, the answer must be yes.
TL;DR
- Territorial transportation infrastructure is essential for U.S. military readiness, disaster response, and geopolitical standing, especially in contested regions like the Indo-Pacific.
- Existing federal transportation funding formulas fail to adequately address the unique challenges and high costs of infrastructure in island jurisdictions.
- Infrastructure in U.S. territories like the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is critical for both civilian needs and military logistics.
- Investing in territorial infrastructure is a strategic imperative for U.S. long-term security and economic resilience, not merely charity.
- The upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill is an opportunity to recognize the direct link between territorial infrastructure and U.S. strategic interests.