INDIANAPOLIS (May 19, 2006) -- Governor Mitch Daniels will discuss how Indiana is resolving its transportation funding gap with the state?s Major Moves transportation and economic development plan at a Congressional hearing next week in Washington, D.C. The governor has been invited by Congressman Thomas Petri, R-WI, to appear before the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at a hearing on ?Understanding Contemporary Public Private Highway Transactions: The Future of Infrastructure Finance??

States across the country are experiencing shortfalls in transportation infrastructure funding, and Daniels was invited to outline Indiana?s funding approach. According to the invitation, ?The Subcommittee is very aware of the shortfalls in available funding resources at federal, state and local levels for critical infrastructure projects nationwide?The Subcommittee is very interested in hearing how you addressed the infrastructure funding shortfall in your State through a creative new mechanism.?

The hearing will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. Early this year, Indiana received a high bid of $3.8 billion for a 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road from a consortia that includes Macquarie Infrastructure Group and Cintra Concessiones de Infraestructure de Transporte, S.A. The General Assembly authorized such a lease earlier this spring, and the state is working toward a June 30 closing. Proceeds will be used to help fund Major Moves, the state?s 10-year $11.8 billion transportation plan.

During his testimony, Daniels will outline why he pursued a public-private partnership as a way to generate proceeds to rebuild and expand the state?s transportation infrastructure after discovering a nearly $3 billion funding gap and describe the authorizing legislation that permits the state to execute the lease agreement.

The governor will meet with media immediately upon conclusion of the hearing. A copy of his testimony will be available at the hearing and will be provided electronically on Wednesday.

The governor also has been invited to provide remarks about Major Moves to the U.S. Department of Transportation?s National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission during a luncheon meeting on Wednesday. This event is not open to media.

Daniels will start his day in Washington with his first stop on the ?Hoosier Comeback? tour with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the City Club of Washington, 555 13th St., NW. A small group of alumni from Indiana colleges and universities and members of the Indiana Society of Washington have been invited to join the governor for breakfast to hear about what is happening in Indiana.

The Hoosier Comeback program is one component of Accelerating Growth, the state?s new economic development strategic plan recently released by the governor. The purpose of the program is to reach out to Hoosiers who have left the state to come back to participate in the state?s economic comeback.

Here is a link to the governor?s invitation from Congressman Petri: http://www.in.gov/gov/media/Subcommittee_Invitation.pdf.