Thune: Multi-Year Transportation Bill Critical to Moving Transportation Projects Forward Without Disruption
“The right decision for the American people is to seize the opportunity to pass a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill without delay.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today urged his colleagues to pass the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill that includes important modifications to the Commerce Committee’s various legislative titles that cover key transportation safety and regulatory reforms. A section-by-section of the Commerce titles may be found here and a bill summary may be found here.
Below is an excerpt from Thune’s speech:
“[S]ome in this building believe it would be easier if we just passed another short-term extension.
“They are right, it would be much easier.
“But keeping highway and related transportation infrastructure projects funded for a few more months doesn’t address safety and regulatory issues we cannot afford to keep ignoring.
“Five months from now, if tax reform leaves us with new options, we can always decide to infuse additional funding into the bill before the Senate.
“But delaying action on transportation for five months could also compound our difficulties. Recall, there have already been 34 short-term extensions passed by Congress since 2009.
“A silent part of every argument for a short-term extension is, ‘let’s not address safety and other critical transportation needs.’
“The right decision for the American people is to seize the opportunity to pass a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill without delay.”
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