Duncan Praises Highway Bill Deal

Statement

Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, praised a bipartisan deal to fund the Nation's transportation infrastructure on Wednesday, calling the agreement "historic."

"I am pleased we have reached agreement with the Senate on what will certainly be one of the major bills to come out of this Congress," Duncan said.

Duncan has been working with House leaders for many months to craft a long-term highway bill that will fund projects through 2014 and reform transportation policy.

"The average highway project in the United States takes 15 years from concept to completion, far more than any other developed Nation. We have got to cut the red tape and speed up these projects," Duncan said. This bill goes further in streamlining environmental rules and regulations than any previous highway bill."

"This bill will also create many jobs that cannot be outsourced or sent to China," Duncan continued.

Current highway funding expires on June 30th, and House and Senate leadership hope to bring the agreement to the floor of both chambers by Friday.

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