WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement following a procedural vote to advance a bill funding the Federal Highway Trust Fund:  

“There’s no doubt that we need a long-term, comprehensive solution to fix our crumbling roads, bridges, and other important infrastructure across our nation,” Senator King said. “But I can’t vote to advance the bill when I haven’t even had the chance to review it. From major trade deals to the agreement with Iran, I don’t think it’s unreasonable – in fact, I think it’s our responsibility – to take the time to review and understand legislation before we vote on it. I remain absolutely committed to seeing that we find a way to responsibly support the infrastructure investment our nation desperately needs, and I look forward to examining and understanding the details of this bill in the days ahead.”

Today, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, announced they had reached an agreement on legislation that would fund the Federal Highway Trust Fund for the next three years. However, the bill – which is more than 1,000 pages long – was only presented to senators and their staff hours before the Senate rushed to hold a vote to advance the bill this evening. Senator King, a longstanding proponent of a long-term solution to fund the Federal Highway Trust Fund, opposed the motion so that he could have time to examine the bill in the coming days.

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