Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today released the following statement following the Senate passage of the HIRE (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) Act on a bipartisan vote of 68-29, which includes an extension of transportation programs and full funding for the Highway Trust Fund through the end of the year. The bill now goes to the President for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, "This is a great day. Today, a million American workers - including 100,000 in California -- know their jobs are more secure because we have renewed the transportation bill through the end of the year. This is a great signal to all our states, to all of our transportation agencies, and to the private sector. Now that this is behind us, we will focus on moving forward with a transformational transportation authorization that will create jobs and build the infrastructure America needs for economic recovery and long term prosperity."

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