WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, the U.S. Senate voted on an amendment to the FY2012 Appropriations bill offered by Sen. Rand Paul that would fund construction efforts on our nation’s most high-priority infrastructure needs without adding to our national debt.
Offsetting the cost of these projects by eliminating transportation enhancement funds used for beautification projects – such as movie theaters, squirrel sanctuaries, turtle tunnels and flower beds – will create nearly $700 million for the Highway Bridge Program. The amendment failed, 38-60.
“With nearly 25 percent of our nation’s bridges deemed either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, we need to make their reconstruction a priority over errant beautification projects,” Sen. Paul said. “My home state of Kentucky has two major arteries in need of immediate repair – one bridge has been shut down, the other in desperate need of repair – and thousands more across the country face the same conditions. I am disappointed my colleagues failed to see this as a priority, affecting our entire nation’s infrastructure and commerce through transportation, and were unable to address this issue without adding to our ever-expanding national debt.”
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