Sen. Carper Decries Finance Committees Punt on Transportation Funding into the Next Congress

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), member of the Finance Committee and chairman of the Environment & Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement after the Finance Committee’s markup of the Preserving America’s Transit and Highways (PATH) Act.

“I am deeply disappointed that the Senate Finance Committee agreed to kick the can into next year on funding a long-term transportation bill today. In doing so it sent a signal to our cities, states, businesses and taxpayers that we will force them to continue to limp along with a stop-and-start transportation policy that will not allow them to plan for the future projects that will truly transform our infrastructure and grow our economy. If the Senate and House move forward with the plan to punt on the responsibility of this Congress to pass and fund a long-term transportation bill until next year, I fear it will set the table to continue the harmful cycle of short-term extensions indefinitely. Therefore I will oppose any such extension on the Senate Floor.

“The opportunity for this Congress to put an end to this irresponsible way of legislating is ripe but fleeting. I will continue to fight for the prudent path that leads to a multi-year transportation bill that cities, states, labor, motorists, truckers, and the business community have told us time and again that they need this year.”

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