Thune Statement on Passage of Five-Year Transportation Bill
“Investments in our nation’s highways, ports, railroads, freight, and mass transit systems are fundamental investments in our economy that benefit all Americans”
December 3, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement on the Senate’s bipartisan passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act conference report, a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill which includes many key provisions approved by the committee earlier this summer. The Senate voted 83-16 to approve the measure today following passage in the House by a vote of 359-65. The bill will now be sent to the president for his signature.
“This five-year transportation strategy provides the stability needed to spur growth and enhance the safety of our nation’s transportation system,” said Thune. “By offering states flexibility, certainty, and relief from red tape, we’re going to get more projects off the ground. Investments in our nation’s highways, ports, railroads, freight, and mass transit systems are fundamental investments in our economy that benefit all Americans. I am proud of the work that the Commerce Committee contributed to the effort and look forward to seeing this bill signed into law."
On July 30, 2015, the U.S. Senate approved the DRIVE Act on a bipartisan vote of 65-34. After House passage of similar legislation, the Senate and House formed a conference committee on which Thune served as a key negotiator to resolve the differences between the two bills.
For more information, click here for the text of the agreement now known as the FAST Act, here for a joint explanatory statement, and here for a summary of the Commerce Committee’s role in over half of the 1,300 page legislative measure.
“This five-year transportation strategy provides the stability needed to spur growth and enhance the safety of our nation’s transportation system,” said Thune. “By offering states flexibility, certainty, and relief from red tape, we’re going to get more projects off the ground. Investments in our nation’s highways, ports, railroads, freight, and mass transit systems are fundamental investments in our economy that benefit all Americans. I am proud of the work that the Commerce Committee contributed to the effort and look forward to seeing this bill signed into law."
On July 30, 2015, the U.S. Senate approved the DRIVE Act on a bipartisan vote of 65-34. After House passage of similar legislation, the Senate and House formed a conference committee on which Thune served as a key negotiator to resolve the differences between the two bills.
For more information, click here for the text of the agreement now known as the FAST Act, here for a joint explanatory statement, and here for a summary of the Commerce Committee’s role in over half of the 1,300 page legislative measure.
