Congressman David Rouzer tours San Bernardino County to discuss critical infrastructure, wildfire response and goods movement

Group photo of eight individuals standing in a meeting room. — From left: San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus, Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman, First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.), North Carolina Congressman David Rouzer, Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., and San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey.

Congressman David Rouzer (R-North Carolina), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, toured San Bernardino County on Tuesday, Aug. 5, to view firsthand the regional infrastructure and wildfire-prone areas critical to California’s emergency response capabilities and the national supply chain.

The visit, hosted by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, emphasized the region’s role in supporting national logistics and goods movement and the critical need for investment in public safety infrastructure.

The tour included an aerial overview of major regional transportation projects over the I-10 and I-15 freeways, one of the nation’s worst bottlenecks, the Cajon Pass, and key corridors in the High Desert that are vital to the movement of goods and people, as well as burn scar areas and emergency access routes.

“This region plays a vital role in our nation’s supply chain and disaster response framework,” said Congressman Rouzer. “This visit provided insight into the challenges and opportunities San Bernardino County faces in protecting lives and supporting the movement of goods across the country. As we work on the next surface transportation bill, I will take these priorities back to Washington to ensure areas like this are considered in legislative conversations.”

At the County Government Center, members of the Board of Supervisors met with the congressman to share their support for federal policies that streamline funding and accelerate project delivery.

“We were proud to welcome Congressman Rouzer and show him firsthand the importance of building resilient roads and bridges,” said Board Chairman Dawn Rowe. “We’re especially grateful to our congressional delegation, who consistently champion our area’s infrastructure needs in Washington, and to Congressman Rouzer for taking the time to see why this region must remain a priority in federal transportation policy.”

“We’re excited to collaborate with our federal partners for the sake of performance, safety, and long-term growth,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “The Sheriff’s Department remains committed to working closely with the Board of Supervisors to grow our region responsibly—because strong transportation networks aren’t just critical for commuters and commerce, they’re essential for public safety and protecting lives in high-risk fire zones.”

County Fire Chief Dan Munsey led the public safety portion of the aerial tour, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ingress and egress in high-risk fire zones.

“When wildfires strike, seconds matter. The roads we showed Congressman Rouzer today are lifelines,” said Chief Dan Munsey. “Federal investments in infrastructure that strengthen emergency access will save lives, not just here, but in any community that depends on safe evacuation routes and fast response times.”

This visit is part of San Bernardino County’s broader federal engagement strategy to ensure upcoming surface transportation legislation reflects the needs of inland communities and goods movement corridors. While the bill is still under development, San Bernardino County is working proactively to ensure future federal funding formulas, grant programs, and policy reforms, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) streamlining and statutory exemptions for emergency infrastructure, support high-priority projects throughout the region.

Additional County Update News – August 14, 2025