Hartzler Introduces Bill to Improve Infrastructure, Halt Funding for Flowers
Statement
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) and Congressman Sam Johnson (R-Texas) today introduced legislation to prioritize the use of federal transportation funding to repair deteriorating roads and bridges rather than to landscape the acreage along the crumbling roads.
"Our highways and bridges are in an increasing state of disrepair," Hartzler said. "A cracked support beam on an I-70 bridge near Boonville recently caused a lane to be closed for a few days, the Gasconade River Bridge on I-44 on Hazelgreen has been closed indefinitely, and the roads that deliver numerous Missourians to work, school, or home continue to crumble. As Congress continues to work towards a sustainable Highway Trust Fund, now is not the time to spend valuable taxpayer dollars on unnecessary "beautification' projects. I appreciate roadside landscaping, but given today's limited highway dollars, these initiatives are best left to volunteer organizations such as the popular "Adopt-a-Highway" program."
"From 1992 to 2013, over $1.3 billion was spent on landscaping and scenic beautification," Hartzler continued. "That's $1.3 billion that could have been spent repairing the over 60,000 "structurally deficient" bridges -- more than 3,300 of which are in Missouri -- or the miles of highways that continue to plague our commutes and our vehicles. My bill will free funds from extraneous projects, allowing them to go where they are needed -- upgrading and improving our national infrastructure - and I thank Congressman Johnson for joining me in straightening out our transportation funding priorities."
Congresswoman Hartzler represents Missouri's Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She serves on the House Agriculture, Armed Services, and Budget Committees.
Congressman Sam Johnson represents Texas' Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Taxation.
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