Chicago Debate League students have already begun preparing to debate the 2012-2013 national debate topic – Resolved: that the United States federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States.

Among the transportation policy issues that will be debated during the year are:

• job creation and economic stimulus;
• energy-efficient transportation as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• national security and terrorism prevention in transportation;
• federal budget deficits and tradeoffs with other government investments;
• federalism and states’ rights;
• the 2012 Presidential election and political response to transportation;
• access to transportation for the poor, minorities, and the disabled;
• transportation’s role in free trade and foreign relations, particularly in North America;
• questions about whether our capitalist economic system is at the root of transportation access issues and whether transportation policy contributes to inequality or reduces it
• privatization of national transportation infrastructure; and
• high-speed rail, electric car charging stations, and other transportation technology.