Heck Votes to Continue Funding for Transportation Projects

Press Release

Congressman Joe Heck (R-NV-03) today released the following statement after voting to extend federal transportation funding until the end of fiscal year 2012. The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 Part II (H.R. 4348) passed the House on a bipartisan vote 293-122. The bill is expected to be the legislative vehicle for a House-Senate Conference Committee on a long-term transportation funding bill.

"I supported this extension to help ensure that the rug is not pulled out from under construction workers and their families who need consistent work to make ends meet. Nevada has more than 30 projects, including the I-15 project in Las Vegas, that rely on federal funding and our economy cannot afford for those projects to be in jeopardy. I realize that another short-term extension does not give those workers the type of certainty they deserve, but this is another step in the process towards moving to a long-term transportation funding solution. As we move this bill to a conference committee, I urge the conferees to return predictability and stability to transportation funding and to include the designation of the I-11 corridor between Las Vegas and Phoenix in their report."

Background:

H.R. 4348 would extend the authority to appropriate funds from the Highway Trust Fund for federal highway and surface transportation programs for the duration of FY 2012. Under current law, surface transportation spending authority is set to expire on June 30, 2012. The current highway program, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), expired at the end of FY 2009 and has since been authorized by a series of short-term extensions. The most recent extension was approved in the House on March 29, 2012 and extended funding until June 30.

I-11 Corridor provision:

A provision in the Senate-passed transportation bill would designate the I-11 corridor, which runs from Las Vegas to Phoenix, as eligible to receive federal funding for future improvements and construction. Such a designation could increase travel between the two cities, improve the economy of southern Nevada and has the backing of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Source