July 10,2008

Baucus Drives Urgency In Highway Repair, Pursues Options In Hearing On U.S. Infrastructure

Finance Chairman emphasizes new jobs for economy, safe roads for America

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today pressed
hearing witnesses on issues relating to U.S. infrastructure needs and the depleted Highway Trust
Fund, which provides funding for maintenance of the nation’s roads and bridges, primarily
through taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel. Senator Baucus has been aggressive in efforts to add
$8 billion to the Highway Trust Fund before the Fund’s scheduled reauthorization next year to avoid significant job losses and address a highway system that is unsafe as a result of stalled infrastructure projects.

“Today’s hearing was provocative and informative and gives us a strong basis for bipartisan understanding of how we can best tackle the issue of America’s outdated transportation infrastructure and the upcoming reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund,” Baucus said. “I will continue to work across parties and across agencies, including the GAO and CBO, to find creative and sufficient financing for these projects. These are projects that mean thousands of good-paying jobs for working families and safe daily travel for millions of Americans.”

The Senate Committee on Finance has jurisdiction over all U.S. tax policy. Finance Chairman Baucus also serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, a subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

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