Mcnerney Votes to Protect Transportation Projects, Restore Funds to Highway Account

Press Release

MCNERNEY VOTES TO PROTECT TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, RESTORE FUNDS TO HIGHWAY ACCOUNT

Today, in the face of a recent Department of Transportation announcement that the Highway Trust Fund will be depleted by the end of September, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) voted to address that shortfall.

H.R. 6532, which originally passed the House in July, passed the House again today after Senate approval last night by a vote of 376 to 29. The bill transfers $8 billion into the Highway Trust Fund, which provides nearly half of public funding for surface transportation projects.

"The fact that the Highway Trust Fund is almost broke is a critical problem. Without the additional funds we approved today, the reimbursement to states for highway and road projects could have dropped to 64 percent and nearly 400,000 jobs could have been lost," Rep. Jerry McNerney, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure said. "Failing to take action would have meant projects all across the country, and here in Northern California, would have been disrupted."

California alone stood to lose nearly $1 billion in funding without this fix and projects would have faced major delays and other serious problems. Since highway money is paid out over a number of years, postponement or delay in starting a project can have long-term ramifications. In addition, the failure of the federal government to pay its share of road projects could imperil other sources of funding that require a government match.

Locally, projects that would have been at risk had the Highway Trust Fund not been restored include the Highway 99 widening in Stockton, improved access to the Port of Stockton as well as projects throughout the region.

With final House passage the bill now heads to President Bush's desk. Presuming the President signs it, the legislation will take effect immediately.

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