Inhofe Warns Of Job Cuts, Money Loss Over Highway Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said an estimated 1,350 Oklahoma jobs and $40 million in projects are at stake if Congress fails to act on the highway rescission issue by Wednesday.

The highway program will expire Sept. 30 (Wednesday) unless Congress acts. Congress is currently debating an extension of the program, but the rescission is looking like it could be left out.

The senator issued the following statement:

“Failure of Congress to immediately address the rescission will cost thousands of American jobs and delay or even cancel planned and ongoing road projects across the nation,” Senator Inhofe said. “In my home state of Oklahoma alone, we stand to lose up to an estimated 1,350 Oklahoma jobs and $40 million in projects if Congress fails to act. I am concerned that this failure would unnecessarily punish cash-strapped state DOTs.  This is detrimental to every state and the entire highway program, and needs to be resolved immediately.”

“As Congress returns tomorrow, I will be working to ensure saving these hundreds of thousands of jobs is priority one. If we are going to make a full economic recovery, the last thing Congress should be doing is engaging in more politics as usual that would lead to additional jobs lost. It’s time for Washington to get its act together and pass a long-term highway extension with a rescission fix.”

“With the billions of dollars pouring out of Washington these days, it’s outrageous that we continue to face transportation shortfalls. I have said repeatedly that transportation infrastructure is one of the best forms of stimulus spending that the government has at its disposal. The economic benefits from transportation investment include both the immediate job creation from construction in addition to the long-term economic benefits associated with the completed project. It’s time for Congress to get our priorities straight and invest in areas that will ensure long-term economic growth. Once again, I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach a solution to the immediate problem while also finding a long term solution in the next highway reauthorization bill.”