Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted to keep funds flowing to states for job-creating transportation projects, while calling on Congress to take up a long-term surface transportation bill that would invest in repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, highways and transit systems.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a two-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund, which is set to expire on May 31. The fund is the primary source of federal investments in roads, bridges, highways and transit systems.

Larsen, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called for this patch to be the last one as he announced his support along with other House Democrats for the GROW AMERICA Act, a six-year, $478 billion surface transportation bill backed by the administration.

“We cannot have a big league economy with little league infrastructure. The two-month patch the House passed today is little league. Our country has the biggest economy in the world, but you would not know it looking at our aging transportation system.

“Construction workers are ready to start making improvements to State Route 20 in Anacortes and to I-5 bridges in Everett. But these projects and others across Washington state and the country face continued delays and uncertainty because of Congress’ inability to pass a long-term surface transportation bill. 

“The GROW AMERICA bill is not a perfect plan, but it is a plan and a place to start. And we need to start somewhere, because we have had yet to see a plan coming out of Congress. Congress must use this bill to get serious about investing in the top job-creating industry in our country. For our economy to succeed, businesses need to be able to trust in reliable access to markets for more than a few months at a time, and citizens need long-term assurance of their safety during daily travel,” Larsen said.

The GROW AMERICA Act provides a total of $478 billion over six years, a 45 percent increase for highways, bridges, public transportation, highway safety, and rail programs. A summary of the bill is available here.

The two-month Highway Trust Fund patch, H.R. 2353, authorizes the fund through July 31, 2015. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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