Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson voted for the bi-partisan adoption of the conference report on Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)– a measure that reauthorizes highway, bridge, transportation safety, and public transit projects for the next five years. The measure provides guaranteed funding for five years, including an increase of more than $1.6 billion over current funding levels for the state of Texas. The FAST Act also reauthorizes the critically important Export-Import Bank for four years, which helps American workers and businesses compete in the global economy.
“As both a conferee on the bill and the senior Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I can say with strong confidence that this legislation is a good-faith effort to make the important investments in our transportation infrastructure our nation desperately needs,” said Congresswoman Johnson.
“While there are some shortcomings in the bill, and some of us would like to have higher levels of investments be included, this bill will help to further new and existing projects for the long-term. This bill creates needed jobs both in my state of Texas and throughout the country. I am also pleased to see that this bill supports research and development, including expanding university transportation center outreach to women and under-represented populations. Going forward, I hope that we can do more to elevate our nation as a leader in multi-modal transportation innovation.”
“While there are some shortcomings in the bill, and some of us would like to have higher levels of investments be included, this bill will help to further new and existing projects for the long-term. This bill creates needed jobs both in my state of Texas and throughout the country. I am also pleased to see that this bill supports research and development, including expanding university transportation center outreach to women and under-represented populations. Going forward, I hope that we can do more to elevate our nation as a leader in multi-modal transportation innovation.”
The conference report included several key provisions:
· It provides long-term funding by designating $281 billion from the Highway Trust Fund over five years for highway, transit, and highway safety programs;
· It boosts funding for railway-highway grade crossings, motor carrier safety grants, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants;
· It ensures higher standards for transit safety; protects bus driver safety, and encourages states to provide mental health
and substance abuse treatment to those charged with Driving Under the Influence;
· It creates American jobs by increasing manufacturing jobs through strengthening Buy America requirements and raising the domestic content threshold of transit buses and rail cars from 60-percent to 70-percent; and
· It connects communities by injecting $3.7 billion over five years into the bus program.
· It provides long-term funding by designating $281 billion from the Highway Trust Fund over five years for highway, transit, and highway safety programs;
· It boosts funding for railway-highway grade crossings, motor carrier safety grants, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants;
· It ensures higher standards for transit safety; protects bus driver safety, and encourages states to provide mental health
and substance abuse treatment to those charged with Driving Under the Influence;
· It creates American jobs by increasing manufacturing jobs through strengthening Buy America requirements and raising the domestic content threshold of transit buses and rail cars from 60-percent to 70-percent; and
· It connects communities by injecting $3.7 billion over five years into the bus program.
