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Minnesota Senators Working to Secure $250 Million in Emergency Relief Funding

August 2, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Minnesota Senators and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Norm Coleman (R-MN) have introduced a bill today to foster recovery efforts in the wake of the Interstate 35W bridge disaster.  The bill authorizes $250 million for the repair and reconstruction of the Interstate I-35 bridge in Minneapolis. Under the Emergency Relief highway program, states are only eligible to receive up to $100 million in emergency relief funds per year for the repair or reconstruction of highways that have suffered serious damage as a result of a disaster. This legislation contains a waiver that will allow Minnesota to receive the $250 million in funding.

It also authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to use this funding for maintenance and operation expenses for additional public transportation services and traveler information services provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation until the highway traffic services are restored. The Senators are working to pass this legislation today.

“Seeing the devastation firsthand today only reinforced the need to move swiftly to secure both the waiver and the emergency funds,” said Klobuchar.  “The first responders have been tireless in their commitment to recovery, and we need to do be tireless in our pursuit of assistance.  Senator Coleman and I are working quickly to get Minnesota the resources it needs for recovery and reconstruction.”

“The effects of this tragedy will reverberate throughout the entire state of Minnesota,” said Coleman. “Clearly, restoration and reconstruction efforts will be lengthy and costly, which is why Senator Klobuchar and I are working reduce the burden this catastrophe is having on our state. There are still tough days that lie ahead as we move into the recovery phase, and I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this measure today, so that federal, state and local officials have the resources they need.”

Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) today introduced an identical bill in the House of Representatives.

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