Recognizing that our outdated transportation system is unsustainable, Congresswoman Porter is eager to make innovative investments that would fight the climate crisis while strengthening our economy. 

Here in Orange County, we rely on our roads and freeways to get where we need to be. That’s why Congresswoman Porter helped deliver for Orange County by voting for the bipartisan Infrastructure & Investment Jobs Act. This legislation makes necessary investments in modernizing our transportation system through road and bridge repairs, expanded public transit, new rail connections, airport renovations, and improved highway safety. It will also renew our aging electric grid and work toward replacing all lead pipes so that everyone has access to clean, reliable electricity and water. 

Congresswoman Porter has heard from Orange County families about how important road safety is to our community. She backed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act and the Moving Forward Act, both of which would improve highway safety and efficiency. Congresswoman Porter successfully amended the Moving Forward Act to develop stronger vehicle seating standards to protect women and strengthen booster seat testing. In addition to making our roads safer, this bill would also reduce our carbon footprint and increase the sustainability of our transportation system.

Keeping Orange County families safe also requires curbing toxic air pollution by cutting our greenhouse gas emissions. Congresswoman Porter introduced the Hydrogen for Ports Act and the Hydrogen for Trucking Act, which would help cut down on fossil fuel use in energy-intensive sectors. These bipartisan bills provide federal support for a key emissions-free emerging technology. When U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh came to Orange County, Congresswoman Porter took him on a tour of UC Irvine’s transformative electric vehicle charging infrastructure and discussed how critical electric vehicles and charging stations are to combatting the climate crisis. 

Congresswoman Porter believes that having comprehensive, science-based research is crucial for lawmakers to make informed decisions about disaster preparedness. That’s why she introduced the bipartisan National Disaster Safety Board Act to make it easier for policymakers at every level to get this data. 

Knowing that Orange County is prone to wildfires and earthquakes, Congresswoman Porter held a town hall with seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones to discuss how Orange County families can stay safe during disasters. She successfully amended the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 to require a report to Congress on the risks that wildland fires pose to our infrastructure and national readiness. She also secured $1.3 million in federal funding for the OC Fire Authority to help meet emergency response needs as Orange County dealt with another intense year of wildfires.