Ernst Supports Bipartisan, Long-Term Highway Bill

“After passing repeated short-term bills and stopgaps, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to pass this important five-year highway bill.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) released the following statement after voting in support of The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) a five-year transportation authorization measure:

“This long-term, bipartisan transportation bill works to ensure that Iowans and all Americans finally have the certainty of safe and secure roads, bridges and other basic infrastructure to help our economy thrive.

“The FAST Act affords much-needed clarity on our nation’s infrastructure needs and places focus on the specific concerns of our state and local communities, enabling them to move forward with planning and implementing long overdue transportation projects.

“Furthermore, the legislation contains a number of critical provisions for Iowa. This includes reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank with necessary reforms to increase oversight of Bank practices and promote good governance measures. The Ex-Im Bank is an important tool to grow our Iowa exports, expand new market opportunities and ensure our competitiveness in the global marketplace. In addition, this bill repeals the ill-advised cuts to the crop insurance program that would have placed a significant burden on our rural Iowa communities and agricultural industry.

“After passing repeated short-term bills and stopgaps, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to pass this important five-year highway bill. I am hopeful President Obama will side with the American people and sign the FAST Act into law.”

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