Contact: Rob Ostrander 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Thursday, April 29, 2004

WASHINGTON – With time running out, U.S. Senator Kit Bond today put a hold on legislation to extend current highway and transit programs and blasted Senate Democrats for delaying action on the transportation bill by blocking the naming of Senate conferees. The current extension expires tomorrow.

"It was eleven weeks ago today that we passed the highway bill," said Bond. "There have been no meetings between the House and Senate. No negotiations to get a final bill done. No progress toward making our roads and bridges safer. No new jobs created.

"In fact, we don't even know who the negotiating team for the Senate is going to be. And why? I have no idea why anyone would block us from moving forward. I have no idea who is now opposed to making our roads and bridges safer, and creating thousands of new jobs. But it is time for them to make their excuses in public, not behind closed doors.

"Objecting to Senator Frist's attempt to appoint conferees is a flat-out filibuster and its time for the American people to know what the problem is. It's time for the politics to end. It's time for Democrats to stop filibustering this bill.

"I cannot support another extension and allow this to continue to delay the passing of a 6-year bill. The right way to go about moving this bill forward is to appoint conferees and let us work out the problems that are brought before us as we have done in the past.

"The Senate attempted to expedite passage of H.R. 4219, the latest extension of the highway bill. I have objected and I will continue to object until real progress is made."

Bond said quick passage of the bill is critical for our states and to stimulate the economy.

"The Department of Transportation estimates that every $1 billion in new federal investment creates 47,500 plus jobs. Most importantly, our comprehensive six-year bill at $318 billion will sustain over 2 million new jobs. These funds will support the much-needed jobs and economic stimulus that our nation currently needs. According to the Associated General Contractors, failure to enact a 6-year bill yields the loss of 90,000 jobs."