Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, December 1, 2003

SPRINGFIELD, MO Senator Kit Bond today told community leaders about the recent victory in the fight for better roads and bridges in Missouri. Bond, speaking at Prime Incorporated in Springfield, told community leaders that last month the federal highway bill passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) – the first major hurdle in the bill's passage.

"This was only the first hurdle in a marathon to get a transportation bill to the President's desk," said Bond, who is chairman of the EPW's Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. "But in this bill is an additional $1.4 billion in federal dollars that will jump-start our economy. The sooner we pass this bill the better for Missouri."

The new highway bill, the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003" (SAFETEA), builds upon previous re-authorizations, including the 1992 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the 1998 Transportation Equity Act or TEA-21, which is now scheduled to expire at the end of February.

For years Bond has fought to increase the return on the dollar that Missourians pay in Federal transportation fees. In 1991, Missourians received 76 cents on the dollar. In 1992, Bond's first crack at the federal highway bill, he worked to increase Missouri's share to a minimum guarantee of 90.5 cents on the dollar. In the new EPW bill Missouri will receive a minimum guarantee of 95 cents on the dollar. This agreement that Bond helped craft will result in approximately $1.4 billion in new dollars designated for Missouri's transportation needs.

Bond also stressed that transportation advocates need to work with national organizations and friends in other states to send a clear message to Congress that the time for the federal highway bill is now. This bill is not only a highway bill, but also a jobs bill, Bond told community leaders.

"I firmly believe that our success in growing jobs and protecting our families depends on our ability to rebuild Missouri's infrastructure and economy. The fight will not be easy but it is one we must undertake now!" said Bond.

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service to Missourians in the United States Senate.