Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement calling on Congress to address the looming crisis in the Highway Trust Fund, which could reach critically low levels in July, according to a status report issued today by the Department of Transportation.
“Today’s update from the Department of Transportation should be a wake-up call to Congress. The Highway Trust Fund is heading toward an avoidable crisis as early as July, and if we don’t act, could lead to a construction shutdown on our nation’s roads and bridges. Every day that Congress waits to address this looming crisis, states will be forced to make difficult planning decisions, as many already have, to delay projects that improve roads and bridges in their communities.
“I’m hopeful that Democrats and Republicans can act on bipartisan proposals that would use corporate revenue to shore up the trust fund to keep those construction projects up and running, and our economy moving. Unfortunately, the House Republican budget would take us in the opposite direction. Instead of solving this crisis fairly and responsibly, it would shut down new construction financed out of the Highway Trust Fund for all of fiscal year 2015, which would hurt workers, our economy, and states across the country.
“We cannot stand by, as the Highway Trust Fund nears critically low levels, and lose new investments in our roads and bridges, especially when these are the very projects that ensure businesses can move their goods quickly and efficiently and help ease congestion for commuters across the country. We should give states the certainty they need to avoid a construction shutdown this summer by making sure the Highway Trust Fund can continue to support projects that create jobs and spur economic growth.”
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