Bustos Reiterates Call for Long-Term Highway Bill

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, reiterated her call for a long-term highway funding bill to protect Illinois transportation projects and jobs. Earlier today, the House passed another short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund that expires in December of this year.

"It was with great frustration that I voted for another short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund today," said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. "While this action is better than allowing the Trust Fund to expire, our local communities, businesses, and hard working families deserve more than short term patches that kick the can down the pothole-ridden road."

"Over the next five months, I will continue to advocate for a long-term solution to strengthen our nation's transportation networks and make the needed down payment on our region's future economic well-being," Bustos continued.

Bustos is a strong proponent of investing in transportation and infrastructure priorities. Earlier this month, Bustos held events to call for a long-term highway bill with local officials in Rockford, Peoria and Moline. Earlier this year, she sent letters to Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, outlining her transportation priorities and advocating for expanding passenger rail service from Chicago to Rockford to Galena. She is also fighting to expand local control over federal transportation dollars by joining with Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13) and introducing the bipartisan Innovation in Surface Transportation Act. This bill would create a competitive in-state grant process in which eligible local entities may compete for a larger portion of federal transportation funding.

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