Congressman Billy Long (MO-7) today, supported H.R. 3763, the “Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015,” which was passed in the House of Representatives by a 363-64 margin.  The bipartisan bill means at least three years – and as many as six years – of certainty for state and local government transportation leaders and includes necessary reforms to help modernize America’s transportation system.

“This bill is vital to Missouri, as we have the sixth largest public road system of any state in the union,”said Rep. Long. “This bill provides much needed certainty to state and local governments so that they can finish longer-term projects.  It also achieves vital reforms to eliminate red tape within the Department of Transportation, refocuses funding on national priorities, provides more flexibility at the local level, and encourages investment from private-sector innovators.”

BACKGROUND:Since the expiration of the two-year “MAP-21” Act in 2014, Congress has provided short-term funding patches that have caused unrest among state and local transportation builders.

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 is a multi-year, fiscally responsible surface transportation reauthorization bill that improves our nation’s infrastructure, reforms our surface transportation programs, refocuses those programs on addressing national priorities, maintains a strong commitment to safety, and welcomes innovation to make the system safer and more efficient. This bill will help us spend less time stuck in traffic, facilitate commerce and economic growth, boost our competitiveness, and help create jobs.

The bill is supported by more than 450 agriculture, railroad, interstate, freight, construction, and economic coalitions which include the Missouri Agribusiness Association and the Missouri Trucking Association.