Griffin Supports Highway Trust Fund Fix to Continue Infrastructure Improvements

Statement

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement today after the committee unanimously reported to the full House the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (H.R. 5021):

"Our highways play a critical role in Arkansas's economy and are key to encouraging job growth and promoting commerce; yet, infrastructure projects are in jeopardy as highway funds run out. Today's bill is a positive short-term fix to address and prevent the looming shortfall; however, we need a long-term solution to ensure our highways, roads and bridges are modernized and safe. President Obama could have prioritized necessary infrastructure improvements in his trillion-dollar stimulus, but failed to do so. It is essential that another opportunity to fix our crumbling infrastructure is not wasted. The committee will hold an upcoming hearing on this issue and will continue our work toward a long-term solution that improves our infrastructure without putting an additional burden on taxpayers."

H.R. 5021, introduced by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (MI-04) and Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-09), is a package of provisions to fund transportation projects through May 31, 2015. The legislation would reauthorize appropriations for federal highway and other surface transportation programs under the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's jurisdiction through May 31, 2015, extend the general expenditure authority of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and related programs under the Ways and Means Committee's jurisdiction through May 31, 2015 and address, in a budget-neutral manner, the looming shortfall in the HTF through additional funding provisions under the Ways and Means Committee's jurisdiction.

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