Hultgren Supports Long-Term Highway Bill

Congressman Randy Hultgren
November 5, 2015

Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today supported House passage (363-64) of H.R. 3763, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, a long-term bill which reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs for six years. The last time a highway bill lasting longer than two years made it to the president's desk was 2005. For a full summary of the bill’s benefits to Illinois and the nation, please visit: http://transportation.house.gov/strr-act.

“Since my time on the Transportation Committee in the House, I have fought hard to find long-term solutions that provide certainty for Illinois’ state and local governments planning for infrastructure improvements. Over the past months, I have sought the input and expertise of 14th District transportation officials and communities who know first-hand their infrastructure needs. I have fought hard for their interests to be included in the final bill, including ensuring equity among Chicago, the suburbs and downstate Illinois. I am pleased Chairman Shuster has agreed to work on ensuring this equity as the bill heads to conference with the Senate,” said Rep. Hultgren. “As I have urged House leadership previously, I believe we must avoid short-term funding bills and prevent never-ending fiscal crises from stopping our important work of overseeing how tax dollars are spent. I look forward to moving the final bill to the president’s desk and continuing the trend toward long-term fiscal planning in all areas of government.”

Rep. Hultgren has received input from a variety of transportation officials and communities throughout the 14th District:


In September, County Chairmen from northern Illinois sent a letter to Rep. Hultgren asking him to raise the issue of equitable transportation funding among urban, suburban and rural areas. Following a regional roundtable he hosted with Rep. Bill Shuster (PA-09), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Hultgren secured a commitment from the Chairman to work on directing funding to suburban areas.
In August, Rep. Hultgren hosted a Community Leadership Forum on Transportation and Technology to discuss how the community can take advantage of the power of technology to transform northern Illinois through innovations to its rich and diverse forms of transportation.
In February, Rep. Hultgren joined nearly 300 of his colleagues in urging House leadership to find a multi-year surface transportation solution which includes a long-term, sustainable funding stream for the Highway Trust Fund.
In January, Rep. Hultgren met with Plainfield officials to hear from them about what should take priority in any and all transportation legislation.