Post by bot on Jul 18, 2015 20:46:20 GMT -5
House Passes Short-Term Highway Bill; Must Pass a Long-Term Funding Bill to Give Confidence to Our Economy, Support Job Growth
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
This week, the House passed a short-term bill to reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund ahead of the looming July 31 deadline. While I am pleased Members on both sides of the aisle worked together to pass this bill, we cannot continue to rely on short-term patches. We must reach agreement on a long-term solution that will give confidence to our economy, help create jobs here at home, and provide state and local governments the certainty they will have infrastructure funding. I will continue to urge my Republican colleagues to work with Democrats on a six-year highway bill that provides the certainty we need.
Republicans can also help support job creation by bringing to the Floor legislation to reopen the Export-Import Bank, which they chose to shut down earlier this month. There is majority support in both the House and Senate for the Export-Import Bank, which helps small and medium-sized business compete in the global marketplace. It is time for House Republican leaders to let the House work its will by putting a bill on the Floor that will allow the Bank to continue providing financial backing to businesses here at home, which helps to support job growth and ensure they can compete globally.
Lastly, after House Republicans pulled their Interior appropriations bill, it is clear that the appropriations process in the House is done. I will continue to urge Republicans to abandon their failed attempt to implement the sequester and instead start negotiations on a bipartisan budget agreement that averts a shutdown and replaces the sequester. The American people expect their Representatives to govern responsibly and we must restore confidence to our constituents that we can get things done on their behalf.