Kaine statement on passage of Highway Trust Fund

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on Senate passage of the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014:

“While I’m disappointed the House did not accept our improvements to the bill, I’m pleased we voted to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through May 2015 and allow critical transportation infrastructure projects in the Commonwealth to continue – but we should not confuse this necessary short-term fix with the long-term plan we need. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 47% of Virginia’s roads are in poor-to-mediocre condition, and driving on inadequately-maintained roads costs Virginia drivers more than $1.3 billion per year or $254 per driver. These needs demand a long-term solution that allows states to plan and prioritize transportation projects with certainty. I urge my colleagues to emulate the Virginia General Assembly’s example of last year and come together on a bipartisan compromise to fund America’s transportation needs.”