[[{"fid":"338","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"style":"height: 213px; width: 300px; float: right;","class":"media-element file-full"}}]]Washington D.C.—Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) voted today in favor of H.R. 22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which garnered bipartisan support, passing the House with a vote of 314-55. The five-year, fully-funded legislation is the result of a House-Senate Conference Committee, to which Rep. LaHood was appointed to serve on. Together the conferees negotiated difference between House and Senate versions of the legislation and produced a bill that will improve the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, including our roads, bridges, transit systems, and rail transportation network. The bill reforms and strengthens transportation programs, refocuses on national priorities, provides long-term certainty and more flexibility for states and local governments, streamlines project approval processes, and maintains a strong commitment to safety.
“After years of short-term legislative patches, I was pleased to see the long-term FAST Act pass swiftly through the House. H.R. 22 will finally provide the 18th District and our cities and states with the tools and resources they need to plan and strategically execute transportation projects with certainty and predictability,” Congressman LaHood said. “This bill provides an effective, efficient, and accountable approach to transportation policy which is vital, given that our transportation infrastructure network is the backbone of our economy.”
“We applaud the conference committee for their good work in completing this important legislation,” added Doug Oberhelman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caterpillar Inc. and Chair of the Business Roundtable infrastructure initiative. “We urge the…Senate to pass, and the President to sign, this legislation as quickly as possible so we can get moving to invest in and rebuild our nation’s critical infrastructure assets.”
Congressman LaHood on C-SPAN Washington Journal this morning discussing the FAST Act
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs through Fiscal Year 2020. This comprehensive legislation achieves long-term certainty and provides significant flexibility for state and local governments, speeds up the project approval process while improving safety. The FAST Act is fully paid for and ensures fiscal responsibility without raising taxes.
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Congressman Darin LaHood proudly serves the constituents of Illinois’ 18th Congressional District, consisting of more than 710,000 constituents across 19 counties throughout Central and West-Central Illinois. Darin was born and raised in Central Illinois and currently resides in the Peoria area with his wife, Kristen, and their three children.
To schedule an interview with Congressman LaHood, please contact J.D. Dalfonso at j.dalfonso@mail.house.gov or at (309) 231-5859
