AASHTO praises Senate action to restore Highway Trust Fund.
Press Release Summary:
Senate approved legislation to transfer $8 billion to restore solvency to Highway Trust Fund, which was the right thing to do according to AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. Fund supports projects that keep America working, relieve congestion, and save time, energy, and lives. Hundreds of millions of dollars of construction projects have been put on hold since announcement that federal-aid payments to states would be withheld because of shortage of funds.
Original Press Release:
AASHTO Praises Senate Action to Restore the Highway Trust Fund
The Senate today approved legislation to transfer $8 billion to restore solvency to the
Highway Trust Fund. Hundreds of millions of dollars of construction projects have been put on hold as a result of Friday's announcement by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters that federal-aid payments to the states would be withheld because of a shortage of funds.
AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley said "State departments of transportation are
breathing a collective sigh of relief across the country today. The Highway Trust Fund supports transportation projects that keep America working, relieve congestion, save time, energy and lives. This was the right thing to do, and the states are especially grateful to the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate leadership for their bipartisan cooperation to avert this crisis."
Horsley added, "We encourage the House to act swiftly so that the President may sign
this bill as soon as possible."
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation" representing state departments of transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation.
