CONGRESSWOMAN ANGIE CRAIG MOVES ROADS AND BRIDGES BILL OUT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, provided an update on the INVEST in America Act, as the Committee considered the critical surface transportation reauthorization bill this week and advanced it to the House floor for further consideration.

You can watch the full press conference here.

As this bill was being crafted, Rep. Craig worked with representatives from state and local government, the business community, organized labor and other organizations with an interest in transportation funding across the Second District to be sure their priorities drove this legislation forward. The INVEST in America Act would be an important roadmap that puts people back to work on critical infrastructure needs like adding a lane and interchange on I-35 in Lakeville to ease traffic, improving Highway 52 in Goodhue County and completing outstanding projects on Highway 13 that will improve freight access.

"As the current surface transportation bill is set to expire on September 30th, it's our responsibility to pass a substantive surface transportation bill that fixes our crumbling infrastructure, reduces congestion time and increases safety on our roads," said Rep. Craig. "I'm honored to work to craft and improve this bipartisan bill so that it serves Minnesota's Second Congressional District. Yesterday we amended the INVEST in America Act to strengthen Congress' commitment to rural America by directing more federal funding to local roads in our smaller communities. I was proud to author language supported by the National Association of Towns and Townships to expand the eligibility for funding to help maintain the roads that are the starting point for moving agriculture and commerce onto our nation's highways."

Yesterday the Committee marked up the bill, which now includes the following amendments:

• A Manager's Amendment offered by Chairman DeFazio that included language authored by Rep. Craig to provide dedicated surface transportation block grant funding to local roads in communities under 5,000.
• An amendment to allow a 10% axle-weight tolerance for commercial motor vehicles transporting dry bulk goods.
• A bipartisan amendment to prevent the imposition of fees for truck parking, and a commitment from Chairman DeFazio to prioritize truck parking in negotiations with the Senate moving forward.

As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Craig will continue to lead her colleagues in the swift passage of this landmark legislation.