Toomey Supports Long-Term, Bipartisan Highway Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following statement about the Senate vote today on highway funding legislation.

"Tonight, I voted for the Senate's five-year transportation bill, the first long-term bill since 2005, because it will allow our commonwealth to repair its roads and bridges and plan for and complete new construction projects.

"Congress was able to pay for this bill without raising the gas tax but rather with offsets in other government programs. I am pleased that the final bill included my legislation to help municipalities make essential infrastructure-based repairs after a natural disaster without having to navigate excessive red tape.

"Altogether, this bipartisan bill contained a total of seven bills I authored including: one to allow states to repeal onerous burdens on farmers; one to improve child support enforcement for the benefit of struggling parents and their children; and several to enhance small banks' ability to lend to small businesses and families.

"Unfortunately, a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank was added to this legislation. This corporate welfare has nothing to do with our highways and bridges and should not have been tacked onto a transportation bill. While the Export-Import Bank may be a winner for certain special interests, it's a loser for taxpayers and those who believe in free enterprise and I will keep fighting against it.

"On balance, the transportation bill is good for Pennsylvania and keeps our highway programs on track with sensible, long-term funding that saves time and money."

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