WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today joined forces with Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Ranking Member on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Peter DeFazio, as well as his fellow CPC co-chair Rep. Keith Ellison and the Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in sending a letter to Speaker John Boehner requesting the House take up a long-term surface transportation bill when it returns from the May district work period.

“We write to you in order to request that the House take up a long-term surface transportation funding bill when it returns from the May district work period,”the letter states. It continues, “A long?term surface transportation reauthorization bill that comprehensively addresses the Nation’s significant highway and public transit needs must be enacted.  Anything less than a long-term reauthorization – which until recent years characterized the way in which Congress legislated in this critical area – will deprive state transportation departments of the predictable funding stream and policy certainty they need to plan and budget effectively for highway, transit, and pedestrian projects.”

Rep. Grijalva released the following statement:

“Investments in infrastructure are down payments on prosperity,” said Rep. Grijalva. “More jobs open up to Americans eager to fill them every time we repair a bridge or build a road. And businesses are more empowered to reach new customers with each new broadband line laid. I urge Speaker Boehner to abandon the temporary fixes that have become far too common in our politics, and bring a long-term surface transportation funding bill to the floor before the Highway Trust Fund’s authorization expires at the end of this month.”

The full text of the letter is available here.

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