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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation Infrastructure, with EPW Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Subcommittee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD), unveiled the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill with a historically high baseline funding level of $303.5 billion over five years for U.S. Department of Transportation programs for highways, roads, and bridges.
“Today we are going big, proposing the largest surface transportation reauthorization package in history,” said Senator Cramer. “Like any successful collaborative effort, neither side got everything they want, but I am glad we were able to find common ground and put forward a bipartisan plan to rebuild and revive America’s roads and bridges. Our bill contains the high levels of support for rural communities we fought for, ensures resources are distributed in an equitable fashion using the current funding formula critical for states like North Dakota, significantly reduces bureaucratic regulations which prevent projects from progressing in a timely manner, and provides states with flexibility to implement federal guidance. I look forward to marking it up with my colleagues on Wednesday.”
The $303.5 bill investment would mark an increase of more than 34 percent from the last reauthorization to pass Congress, the FAST Act, in 2015, which expired in 2020. Congress passed a one-year extension that will expire on September 30, 2021 if Congress fails to act. This legislation will be marked up by the EPW committee on Wednesday, May 26.
Senator Cramer has been a strong proponent of advancing a historically-large transportation surface bill that aligns with North Dakota’s priorities. Through his leadership role on the EPW Committee, Senator Cramer has been urging Congress to take advantage of the current national interest in passing infrastructure legislation and support efforts to build and maintain a robust, coast-to-coast transportation system in America. His recent efforts include:
Click here for text of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act. Click here for a section-by-section.