Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, April 7, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator Kit Bond today spoke on the progress of the reauthorization of the federal highway bill. While addressing the Associated General Contractors of Missouri, Bond was awarded with a Leadership Award for his work at improving air, rail, water, road and bridge transportation systems in Missouri and across the United States.

"Anyone who has driven on Missouri's highways knows we can – and must – do better," said Bond, who is chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Nuclear Safety. "While there are no easy answers, I hope we can improve Missouri's position in the highway bill. To do that, it is vital that Missourians of all stripes – Democrat, Republican, rural and urban – pull together. " Bond cautioned that the reauthorization directs national, not local transportation priorities, and that any bill must win wide Senate approval, a task not easily accomplished.

Bond noted his recent success when, last week, the Senate adopted, by a vote of 79-21, a bi-partisan amendment authored by Bond to boost federal highway and mass transit spending by approximately $10 billion per year for the next six years. This action means that the Senate's budget blueprint for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2003, now has room to spend up to $255 billion for federal highways and $56.5 billion for mass transit over the next six years. That is a 28.9 percent increase over the Senate Budget Committee's report which included only $206 billion for federal highways and $44 billion for mass transit.

Budget resolutions such as this one never become law, but they do provide other Senate Committees with spending limits. That includes the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation Subcommittee.

Located in the geographic center of the nation, Missouri is home to the country's sixth largest highway network. Unfortunately, the condition of Missouri's roads and highways has lagged far behind their increased use. In fact, in many parts of the state, poor roadway conditions have led to high accident and fatality rates.

Bond vowed to work closely with President Bush, Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, his Senate colleagues and state and local officials from around the country to draft a reauthorization bill that meets the nation's needs.

For further information on the reauthorization of the highway bill, please visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization/index.htm.