Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, November 15, 2002

WASHINGTON - Senator Kit Bond confirmed today that he will become chairman of a key U.S. Senate subcommittee in charge of rewriting the new, multi-billion federal highway bill in 2003.

Bond will become chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Nuclear Safety. That is a part of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Bond's new subcommittee will help write the law that, in large part, governs how and where tens of billions of federal dollars are spent to improve the nation's highways. The rewriting of this bill occurs only once every six years.

"The American economy and our society has outgrown our nation's highway infrastructure," said Bond, a long-time advocate for more public investment in the nation's economic and transportation infrastructure. "In its present condition, our highway system is actually holding back our economy. That cannot be allowed to continue. Patching yesterday's highway plan with today's dollars is not a solution for tomorrow's problems. American commerce for many decades will travel the roads we begin building today. We must get started now."

The new law builds upon previous reauthorizations, including the 1992 Intermodal Surface transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the 1998 Transportation Equity Act, which expires September 30, 2003.

Located in the geographic center of the nation, Missouri is home to the country's sixth largest highway network. Unfortunately, the condition of Missouri's roads and highways has lagged far behind their increased use. In fact, in many parts of the state, poor roadway conditions have led to high accident and fatality rates.

Bond vowed to work closely with President Bush, Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, his Senate colleagues and state and local officials from around the country to draft a reauthorization bill that meets the nation's needs.

For further information on the reauthorization of the highway bill, please visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization/index.htm.