On the recordMarch 3, 2011
I am so pleased the Senate has passed H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011. This legislation provides a clean extension of Federal surface transportation programs through the end of the fiscal year. H.R. 662 was passed by the House of Representatives yesterday by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 421-4. This legislation had previously been approved by voice vote in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Under this extension, States will receive $23.1 billion for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. This equates to over 800,000 jobs nationwide that would be created or saved. As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol to move forward on a transportation authorization that will put people to work, bring our Nation's highways, bridges, and transit systems up to a state of good repair, and reduce congestion and its impacts on commerce and communities. The committee is planning to markup a new authorization by spring. However, this extension is necessary in order to give Congress time to enact this authorization.
