Hoffa: The Time Has Passed For Short-Term Solutions For Highway Funding

Congress Must Find a Long-Term Solution to Protect Public Safety, Create Jobs

News provided by

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Jul 15, 2015, 04:55 ET

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the House voted to extend federal highway funding for another five months as the July 31 expiration of the current funding quickly approaches. This marks the fourth time this year that the House has voted to extend highway funding for the short-term rather than buckling down and finding a long-term solution.

If passed in the Senate, this would be the 35th short-term funding measure enacted by Congress in the last six years. Since 2008, Congress has transferred more than $62 billion from the general fund to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat and it has been more than a decade since Congress has passed a highway bill that lasted longer than two years.

"The longer our representatives on Capitol Hill are unable to agree on long-term highway funding, the further and further our infrastructure falls into disrepair," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "It is time to put aside partisan agendas and work together. No more delays and no more short-term patches."

Without clearly defined, long-term federal funding, states cannot commit to the infrastructure projects they desperately need. However, the inability of Republicans and Democrats to agree upon how to fund a multi-year surface transportation bill has left state governments and the millions of workers who benefit from infrastructure projects in limbo.

"I don't know what is worse – the gridlock on our highways or the gridlock in Congress," Hoffa said. "It is long past time for Congress to enact a comprehensive, long-term highway bill that will generate jobs and build, maintain and repair our ailing infrastructure. Let's get America working!"

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
Galen Munroe, (202) 624-6911
[email protected]

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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters