Pascrell/Menendez/LoBiondo Amendment on Pay to Play Reform Passed on House Floor

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today issued the following statement applauding the House passage of the Pascrell/Menendez/LoBiondo Amendment on Pay to Play Reform Protection.  This provision was drafted in response to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) recent decision hindering the ability of states to address the serious problem of pay to play scandals.  Pascrell offered this amendment to H.R. 3, a bill to reauthorize federal highway and transit programs, on the House floor.  The amendment passed by voice vote.

"Today, partisan politics took a back seat to government ethics reform across the nation.  States should be free to act as they believe appropriate to protect their state highway contracting process without jeopardizing their federal-aid money - bottom line."

"As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I worked hard for this amendment and its inclusion in the House passage of TEA-LU.  It is a sound provision which accomplishes many great things.  This is an important step for good government and real reform." 

Rep. Pascrell and Menendez first introduced their "Pay to Play Reform Protection Act" in January, after the initial FHWA decision withholding New Jersey federal-aid money.  The bill had the support of several "good government" groups, including Public Citizen, Common Cause, Democracy 21, and the Center for Civil Responsibility.

"This victory would not have been possible with the strong bipartisan support of Congressman Menendez and Congressman LoBiondo, two champions for New Jersey transportation priorities.  Governor Codey, who supported this amendment, should be proud of the entire New Jersey delegation in delivering for the state."

"We have cleared a major milestone in the process, which will allow the soon to be enacted state law be implemented in whole, without federal intervention holding up state efforts.  The House took a powerful step today to address the threat of real and apparent corruption and advanced the clean government intent of the federal competitive bidding process."

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