Fischer: Our Infrastructure Requires Long-Term Solutions

Press Release

This morning, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) chaired her third hearing focused on surface transportation reauthorization. Senator Fischer released the following statement after the conclusion of this morning's hearing:

"This morning, we held our third transportation hearing, focusing on the reauthorization of our nation's surface transportation programs. At the end of May, authorization for surface transportation programs will expire. Furthermore, according to the latest projections, the Highway Trust Fund will run out of money by August. The time for action is now.

"American families, consumers, workers, and businesses depend on a safe and reliable transportation system. In order to meet these standards, we must ensure that regulations carefully balance their intended safety goals without harming the economy. I look forward to working with my colleagues to solve these problems and provide the means necessary to improve our infrastructure."

MAP-21, the latest surface transportation authorization, will expire on May 31. The Department of Transportation predicts the Highway Trust Fund will run out of money before the beginning of August.

Businesses, consumers, state and local officials, and the travelling public need long-term certainty in transportation funding and policy. Short-term authorizations reduce the stability of our highway programs and cause disruptions to the work that states and localities are doing to update roads and bridges each season.

To that end, Senator Fischer convened a hearing this morning with representatives from manufacturing, private business, state legislatures, and municipalities to discuss the importance of passing a long-term transportation bill. Although a short-term bill is likely to address the pending authorization deadline, that should not dispel efforts to produce a long-term, sustainably-funded, six-year transportation bill.

Source