Loebsack Applauds Passage of Five-Year Highway Bill

Statement

Congressman Dave Loebsack today voted in favor of the conference report on Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. This measure reauthorizes highway, bridge, transportation safety, and public transit projects for the next five years and provides $281 billion in guaranteed funding. Also included in the conference report is a fix to the devastating cuts to the crop insurance program, which were included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 that passed earlier this year. Loebsack helped lead the fight to restore these cuts since they were originally proposed.

"I am pleased that Congress could come together in a bipartisan fashion to pass a long-term highway reauthorization bill today," said Loebsack. "For too long, Congress has passed one short-term extension after another, leaving state and local governments in limbo and preventing many transportation projects from being built. By providing guaranteed funding for the next five years, this measure will help create jobs in Iowa and give communities the certainty needed to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements."

"Earlier this year, in a misguided and potentially devastating attempt, Congress tried to balance the budget on the backs of America's farmers and ranchers by cutting the crop insurance program. I strongly opposed this move and was pleased to help lead the fight to reverse these cuts."

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