Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks on H.R.3617, the “Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2009” which provides a three-month extension of Federal aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs. The House passed the bill, 335-85.

“Today I join with Chairman Oberstar in reluctantly supporting a short-term extension of the Surface Transportation Act, rather than a long-term reauthorization which I am hopeful will be coming soon. Many of the members serving in the 111th Congress may remember the unnecessary and repeated extensions this body passed during the consideration of SAFETEA-LU and the harmful impact not passing a comprehensive reauthorization had on our districts. The longer we delay reauthorization of comprehensive legislation, the longer we delay construction on much needed infrastructure projects and creation of valuable construction jobs. With more than 1.6 million construction workers unemployed nationwide, this is not only a matter of improving our nation’s highway system; it is also a matter of creating jobs for those that are out of work. This is particularly important to my home state of Michigan, which has the highest unemployment in the nation at over 15 percent and many vital construction projects waiting in the pipeline.

“Without a full reauthorization my home state of Michigan is facing a terrible crisis. Already because of the SAFTEA-LU rescission, Michigan stands to lose $263 million in federal funding. At the same time, the state is struggling to find state revenue to match federal dollars for transportation projects across the state in 2011, 2012 and 2013. This is all while Michigan continues to operate as a donor state to the Highway Trust Fund. Our communities desperately need the funding a full reauthorization would provide and we should not let the important work of the House be delayed because of an ambitious agenda.” 
 

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