It is seemingly a rarity nowadays for Congress to get something right. But last week the U.S. Senate did just that with the passage of a bipartisan, six-year federal transportation funding bill. This is a positive first step. Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives left for an August recess without acting upon the important Senate measure.
The House instead voted to authorize yet another short-term extension — despite the urging of area lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., who correctly pushed for a long-term federal highway bill. The House is now expected to consider the Senate’s long-term highway bill following the August recess in September.
The $350 billion long-term bill — known as the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act — was approved in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 65 to 34. It would make changes to highway, transit, railroad and auto safety programs. However, the sponsors of the bill were only able to find enough money to pay for the first three years of the six-year bill.
Still this is progress considering the recent and very poor track record of Congress. For those keeping count, there have been 34 short-term extensions of the last long-term transportation bill. In other words, lawmakers keep kicking the can down the road instead of doing the job they were elected to do.
Most Americans — regardless of their political affiliation — appear to be supportive of a new long-term transportation bill. How else can we repair and replace aging roadways and bridges across the country? Locally, a new long-term highway bill also could help in terms of potential federal funding for the King Coal Highway, a point correctly illustrated last week by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
“After weeks of debate, I am proud that the Senate has come to a consensus on a bipartisan, six-year transportation funding bill that will deliver the certainty and flexibility states need to advance critical infrastructure projects like Corridor H and the King Coal Highway,” Capito said last week. “I have been a strong voice for West Virginia’s roads, bridges and highways throughout this debate, and I am encouraged that an overwhelming Senate majority recognizes the need for long-term federal investment in our transportation infrastructure. Now that the Senate has come together to pass a multi-year highway bill, it is time for the House to do the same.”
We agree. And we applaud Capito for recognizing the importance of the King Coal Highway corridor to the future of southern West Virginia. Yes, we have a bridge to nowhere in Bluefield. With hope — and a little help from Congress — this could change in the near future.
The DRIVE Act is a good first-start in helping to address this and other critical infrastructure needs for our nation. But the road ahead could still be bumpy, and a number of potential road blocks could distract returning lawmakers this fall, including the looming debate over whether to approve the Iran nuclear deal and the growing debate over federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
But with hope lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives can get their act together, and join the U.S. Senate in authorizing a long-term transportation bill. Continuing to kick the can down the road is no longer an acceptable course of action.
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