Takai Pushes to Avert Highway Trust Fund Expiration

Statement

Today, Congressman Mark Takai released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 2353, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015:

"The bill passed by the House today is simply a stop-gap measure that does not address the bigger concern surrounding the Highway and Transit Trust Fund, or the fact that the fund becomes insolvent on July 31. While I supported the legislation passed today, it is long overdue for the House to consider a long-term reauthorization of the trust. If we do not commit resources to the Highway Fund, we are neglecting crucial infrastructure upgrades that will hurt our country in the future. In addition, until a long-term funding solution is put forward, hundreds of thousands of American workers and important projects face great uncertainty," Takai said.

"This is a similar situation to the battle fought over the Department of Homeland Security funding bill; the Republicans in the House have once again threatened the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of Americans due to their extreme brinksmanship. In Honolulu, there are 654 total bridges, the Department of Transportation in December of 2014, stated that 246 of them or almost forty percent are deficient. This is an alarming statistic that requires immediate action before the situation deteriorates even further. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to produce a multi-year extension of the Highway Trust Fund. In order for our country to continue to thrive, we need to have a modern infrastructure in place and the Highway and Transit Trust Fund is one of the most viable means of accomplishing that goal." Takai added.

The House passed H.R. 2353 with a vote of 387-35. The bill reauthorizes federal-aid highway and transit programs for two months, through July 31, but does not provide any additional transfers of general Treasury funding to the Highway and Transit Trust Fund.

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