For Release: Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES TRANSPORTATION BILL

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today applauded House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee passage of H.R. 3, a $284 billion transportation bill which provides reauthorization for the nation's highway and transit systems.  Costello is a cosponsor of the bill and senior member of the Committee.

"This is critical legislation for the nation and the state of Illinois, and I am optimistic we will pass a final version of the bill this year," Costello said.  "This bill includes many provisions that were agreed to by the House and Senate last year, so I am hopeful we can proceed quickly to complete it and take advantage of the entire construction season."

Costello added that he was pleased that the bill maintains a section for mega projects--projects that are very important to our nation's transportation system that otherwise could not be funded out of the normal state funding formula.  He will continue to work to include funding for the new Mississippi River Bridge in this section of the legislation.

H.R. 3 is expected to be considered on the House floor next week.  The Senate is yet to consider its version of the highway bill this year. 

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