Senate Votes on Paul Amendment to Address Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure

Statement

This morning, the U.S. Senate voted on an amendment to the FY2012 Appropriations bill offered by Sen. Rand Paul that would fund construction efforts on our nation's most high-priority infrastructure needs without adding to our national debt.

Offsetting the cost of these projects by eliminating transportation enhancement funds used for beautification projects - such as movie theaters, squirrel sanctuaries, turtle tunnels and flower beds - will create nearly $700 million for the Highway Bridge Program. The amendment failed, 38-60.

"With nearly 25 percent of our nation's bridges deemed either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, we need to make their reconstruction a priority over errant beautification projects," Sen. Paul said. "My home state of Kentucky has two major arteries in need of immediate repair - one bridge has been shut down, the other in desperate need of repair - and thousands more across the country face the same conditions. I am disappointed my colleagues failed to see this as a priority, affecting our entire nation's infrastructure and commerce through transportation, and were unable to address this issue without adding to our ever-expanding national debt."

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