Both Representatives Shea-Porter and Kuster voted for the short term fix to keep the national highway trust fund solvent. Outwardly calm and willing to go about their daily business, both inwardly pine for a long-term solution. NH Labor News reports:
Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) voted in support of bipartisan legislation that will keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through May 2015, allowing New Hampshire cities and towns to continue repairing roads and bridges. H.R. 5021 passed the House by a vote of 367-55. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to pass and be signed into law by the President. “I am pleased that this badly-needed fix will allow construction projects in New Hampshire to continue this summer,” said Shea-Porter, who has pushed for months to bring the fix to the floor. “Maintaining investments in our highways, roads, and bridges will support jobs, enhance safety, and boost the local economy.”
Without Congressional action, the Highway Trust Fund is projected to face a shortfall by next month, putting 700,000 American jobs at risk.
“While this bill will keep workers on the job for now, Congress must pass a full transportation reauthorization to allow long-term planning for essential major projects,” Shea-Porter added. “This year, 32% of New Hampshire bridges were rated deficient. Our infrastructure needs upgrades to stay competitive in the 21st century, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation needs resources to continue its excellent work for our state.”
“Federal transportation funding is vitally important for fixing our failing roads and bridges, protecting public safety, and supporting much-needed construction jobs for NH workers. That’s why I voted in favor of this bill, which provides a short-term solution to the Highway Trust Fund’s lack of funding. This will help ensure states can protect the crucial summer construction jobs our workers rely on,” said Kuster.
“However,” Kuster continued, “I am very disappointed that this bill kicks the can down the road until next May. I introduced legislation that would have saved jobs this summer and forced Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill before the end of this year. I call on my colleagues in the House to come together this year to pass a six-year, long-term bill. We shouldn’t wait until May to provide the certainty that our states and towns need to continue working to fix our roads and bridges and support Granite State jobs.”
Following the bill’s passage, NHDOT Commissioner Christopher Clement stated: “Keeping the Federal Highway Trust Fund solvent is critical to New Hampshire moving forward with important transportation improvement projects. This will allow the Federal Highway Administration to continue to reimburse the State of New Hampshire on schedule and allow millions of dollars in road and bridge projects currently being delayed to be addressed sooner. We appreciate and support efforts in Washington to make this possible, as well as the need to work towards a long-term transportation funding bill.”
Darren Benoit, of the New Hampshire Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, said: “Passage of the Highway Trust Fund patch will help maintain the current level of investment in our transportation network as we try to address our deteriorating infrastructure while sustaining the construction sector, a vital part of our state’s economy.”