Armed with 300 Signatures, House Members Press Leadership on Transportation Funding Bill

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) has announced that he and Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.) have organized an effort to collect about 300 signatures on a letter calling on House leaders to produce what the congressmen call a responsibly paid-for, multiyear surface transportation reauthorization bill.

The letter is to be sent Feb. 11 to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and will be signed by other House members and stakeholders nationwide, Lipinski said.

“We know that our country needs robust transportation infrastructure to compete in the global economy, and that without such a network, the United States will be less able to realize future economic growth,” Lipinski said.

“Our constituents in the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and distribution sectors rely heavily on our network of roads and bridges to move the products that make us competitive around the globe,” he added.

Ribble said Feb. 11 during Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx's appearance before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that he had the signatures of 285 House members, representing 66% of that body.

The last time Congress passed a transportation reauthorization bill was in 2012. That measure, MAP-21, originated in the Senate with the House unable to agree on a proposal of its own.

MAP-21, however, was for only two years, meaning it was set to expire last year just as the Highway Trust Fund came close to insolvency. Congress approved a temporary extension until May 31, but the House has yet to put forth a new funding proposal for the nation’s transportation system.

Thanks to @RepRibble and @RepLipinski for their bipartisan leadership in pursuing a long-term highway bill. Retweet to show your support! — I Make America (@IMakeAmerica) February 10, 2015