Washington Post Editorial Endorses Bipartisan Renacci-Pascrell Funding Plan [November 5, 2015]

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) voted in support of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, which was considered by the House this morning. The renewal of federal surface transportation programs authorizes $325 Billion in infrastructure investments, including over $6.1 Billion for New Jersey highways and bridges, and over $3.5 Billion for New Jersey’s transit systems, over the next six years.

“The House passing a six year highway reauthorization is an important accomplishment and can provide some certainty for the future. As congestion on our roads is increasing and more people than ever are riding public transportation, it is crucial that the federal government works to meet the mobility needs of this expanding nation,” stated Rep. Pascrell, who served for 10 years as a member of the House Transportation Committee. “However, we have much more work to do to improve this bill in the conference committee. The American people should know that while the bill authorizes six years of funding, there is only enough money for about three years. That is why I tried to offer, with my colleague Rep. Renacci, our plan to provide long term, robust, sustainable funding for our highway system. Although the House Republican leadership closed the process and denied our bid to actually fund this bill on the floor, we are dedicated in our fight to accomplish our goal.”

Rep. Pascrell, Jr., a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, offered testimony {see video} before the House Rules Committee on Tuesday in support of the amendment offered by Reps. Renacci (R-OH), Pascrell, Ribble (R-WI), Lipinski (D-IL), Amodei (R-NV), Hanna (R-NY), Capuano (D-MA), Barletta (R-PA), Quigley (D-IL), Rangel (D-NY) and Welch (D-VT) being granted a vote by the full House during consideration of the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill this week. The amendment is a modified version of H.R. 1846, the Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act, which would provide long term sustainable funding for the federal highway program. When the amendment was disallowed, Pascrell took to the House floor to oppose the Rules process {see video} which prevented ideas to finance the Highway Trust fund, but allowed a radical devolution amendment to dismantle the fund.

This morning, the Washington Post published an editorial entitled “Bypassing the Gas Tax” supporting the Renacci-Pascrell plan. The article stated:

“Rep. James B. Renacci (R-Ohio) and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) suggested establishing a task force to recommend a stable, long-term funding policy for the transportation budget. If Congress refused its recommendations or failed to act by 2019, the gas tax would be set to increase. Moreover, the amendment would have pegged the gas tax to inflation, which is something Congress should have done decades ago.

Once the House finishes the transportation bill, it will have to be merged with the Senate’s. There’s talk of adding new policy at that stage … They should add in the bipartisan Renacci-Pascrell plan.”

Pascrell, who has held events in his district promoting the need to renew the Export-Import Bank, also commended the House for again passing language to extend the bank’s charter as part of this legislation.

“With all we know about how important the Export-Import Bank is to creating jobs and boosting American manufacturing, I am pleased that we have taken another step toward finally reauthorizing this valuable institution,” concluded Pascrell.