Torres on House Adjournment with No Long-Term Highway Bill or Ex-Im Authorization
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) expressed disappointment in the decision by House Republican leadership to adjourn for the August recess a day early while failing to address both a long-term transportation funding bill and the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.
"I am incredibly frustrated that House leadership has decided to head home for the August recess while leaving long-term transportation funding and the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank unfinished," said Torres. "We were elected to Congress to pass needed legislation to further the interests of our constituents, not to operate in a constant state of gridlock, jumping from one avoidable, manufactured crisis to another."
Current authorization for the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for roads, bridges, and public transit systems throughout the country, is set to expire on July 31st. Rather than taking up a long-term bill to provide certainty to state and local transit agencies, Congress has passed 25 short-term extensions, including the latest three month extension passed by the House of Representatives today.
The charter for the Export-Import Bank expired on June 30th, and the bank has been unable to make new loans to help U.S. businesses export since that date. The bank has supported 1.3 million private-sector jobs since 2009 at zero cost to taxpayers. A list of California companies that receive Export-Import Bank assistance can be found here: https://customermap.exim.gov/state_map.cfm?state=CA.
"These are measures that enjoy broad, bipartisan support and provide much needed jobs in our communities. While I am looking forward to a busy, productive few weeks of work in the district, I would be willing to stay in DC to finish the people's business if the Speaker would bring the House back into session," continued Torres. "It's a shame that instead of working together to tackle these issues, my colleagues would rather throw in the towel. This is not why I came to Congress."
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