Tom Latham: “The conference agreement contains almost $1.7 billion in emergency disaster money to repair roads and bridges. These…”

“The conference agreement contains almost $1.7 billion in emergency disaster money to repair roads and bridges. These funds will supplement existing Federal, State, and local monies and will be used for repairs and reconstruction. There are areas where State roads are still under water; thus the emergency repair funding for highways in this agreement is vital to ensuring that Iowa roads and the roads in other States are restored to good working condition. Important to the emergency highway repair category and contained in the agreement is an important waiver that waives the time line of 180 days from the disaster declaration date so that States can receive 100 percent reimbursement. All in all, this agreement represents the best we could do under the present circumstances. In the end, we've had to come to make some compromises, but we also have a number of important victories in this agreement. I would urge all Members to support this conference report.”