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I-69 Provides Seamless link between the US, Canada, and Mexico by senator Mary Landrieu As many of you know, the
United States, Canada and Mexico combine to make up the largest free trade zones in the world. Interstate 69 would enhance that by creating a seamless link
between these three countries, in a way that is beyond compare to any current infrastructure links. I
know that all states slated for a portion of I-69 are excited about the possibilities that come with it. My home state of Louisiana is no different.
In fact, I-69's potential is particularly important to the states within the Mississippi River Valley, a land of great contrast and also great poverty. It
includes thousands of square miles of some of the country's richest natural resources and most valuable physical assets, yet the population constitutes the poorest region in the United States. The challenges facing the
region are clear: high unemployment, high illiteracy rates, a lack of affordable housing and a sluggish economy. In
fact, while 12 percent of the nation's population lives below the poverty line, 24 percent live in poverty in Louisiana's Delta region. The
key to solving these problems is finding ways to stimulate the economy. Clearly, the I-69 project will do that not only for Louisiana and the entire Delta
region, but also for the entire country. I-69 will not only connect the Great Lakes' ports to Houston and New Orleans, it offers economic opportunities for the 4.5 million people along the route who now live in poverty.
Transportation is more that simply a way to get from point A to point B. It provides job creation opportunities, possibilities for better education and increased quality of life. As
a United States Senator, I am doing what I can from Capitol Hill to ensure the project goes forward. In fact, I recently requested, on your coalition's
behalf, that the fiscal 2001 federal transportation appropriations include $19 million to begin design services for the Louisiana portion of the corridor, which will be through the Shreveport/Bossier
City area. The Shreveport metropolitan area is an emerging hub for freight transportation, and having I-69 through this area will provide an important
infrastructure link for our state and the entire country as trade increases with Canada and Mexico. For
more that 300 years Louisiana has been a conduit for economic activity and international trade. In fact, France's decision in 1717 to colonize Louisiana
was based on plans to use the New Orleans area as a trade center in order to give France access to the entire Mississippi Valley. Trade continues to be an
important part of our economy, with experts predicting that to increase dramatically in the future. In
response, Louisiana has undergone massive infrastructure improvements, and the completion of I-69 will be a major part of that. These improvements are
opening the door for our state and the entire region to take advantage of the growing e-commerce business and the economic boom associated with the Internet. While
these business transactions take place in the "virtual world," it is real world highways, waterways, ports, airports and railroads that are needed to transport real products to their final
destination. All of the states that will benefit from I-69 are ready to capitalize on that.
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