House Passes Bill with Millions in Transportation Funding for Skagit County Priorities

States News Service, April 2, 2004

HEADLINE: HOUSE PASSES BILL WITH MILLIONS IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR SKAGIT COUNTY PRIORITIES

BYLINE: States News Service

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

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"Today's vote puts this bill one step closer to creating jobs and helping to relieve congestion in our local communities, two of my top priorities in Congress. I will keep working hard in Congress to meet the transportation needs of Skagit County and Washington state," Larsen said.

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"Every one billion dollars in transportation funding creates and sustains more than 47,000 jobs, making this money a good investment in the Pacific Northwest," Larsen pointed out. "This bill will help reduce congestion which means we can move freight, move goods, and move people-giving them more time at home with their families and less time stuck in traffic."

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"I am disappointed that the president put a chokehold on this bill's funding. This $275 billion merely scratches the surface of America's transportation needs," Larsen said. "But the bill's broad bipartisan and national support shows Congress understands that we need to pass this bill, reduce congestion, create jobs and get this economy moving."

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He continued, "We are particularly grateful for the key role Rep. Larsen played in nearly doubling national ferries funding to $430 million from the current $220 over six years. Commuters, businesses, and communities who depend on the Washington State Ferries system will benefit tremendously from this increased funding, which will be used to help replace aging boats and modernize terminals."