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WASHINGTON — Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said President Obama will soon announce a sweeping infrastructure funding plan.

The White House last week provided some details of the infrastructure plan President Obama mentioned in his State of the Union address, calling for an immediate $50 billion in infrastructure spending, with $40 billion going to repairing roads, bridges and other facilities.

President Obama signed a new transportation reauthorization law on July 6 that drew measured praise from truckers, shippers, road builders and others who said they were relieved a new law was enacted, even if it does not address long-term funding for the nation’s highway system.

President Obama was scheduled to sign into law late last week a two-year, $105 billion transportation funding bill that will allow more tolling of interstate highways and create a national freight highway network.

President Barack Obama named former California utility executive John Bryson as his choice for commerce secretary, drawing on Bryson’s business expertise for a job that is central to the administration’s goal of doubling U.S. exports, Bloomberg reported.

President Barack Obama said the lower unemployment rate figure released Friday shows the economy is showing signs of strength, the Associated Press reported.

President Barack Obama’s transportation reauthorization proposal would increase spending on roads and bridges over the next six years to $336 billion, a 48% increase over the $227 billion in the previous federal reauthorization package.

President Obama Tuesday nominated Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew to serve as the new head of the White House Office of Management and Budget.