Washington, D.C. -- Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member, issued the following statement on the bipartisan, bicameral agreement that has been reached on the transportation conference report. The agreement provides funding at current levels through the end of fiscal year 2014.

Senator Boxer said: "I couldn't be more pleased to announce, along with my partner Senator Inhofe, that we have a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a transportation bill which saves and creates millions of jobs. Not only will this reform bill provide a boost to the economy and the construction industry, but it is a big win for the middle class, business, and our environment. This agreement provides stability and flexibility for the nation's transportation planners, invests in America's crumbling roads and bridges, and puts people back to work. I want to thank Senator Inhofe, Rep. John Mica, Rep. Nick Rahall, and all the other conferees, and leadership in both the House and Senate for working virtually non-stop to finish this bill."

Senator Inhofe said: "The agreement struck on the highway conference report is great news for jobs and economic growth in Oklahoma and across the nation. I would like to thank Chairman Boxer for her leadership and the House and Senate conferees for their hard work and for their dedication to getting this bill done. As with any compromise we didn't get everything we wanted, but I believe we truly have a good bill - one conservatives can be proud to support. Throughout the conference, we strove for solid conservative reforms: we reduced the number of programs by 2/3; eliminated or consolidated those that are duplicative or don't serve a national transportation goal; got rid of numerous bureaucratic hurdles; we were able to slash the lengthy and often duplicative environmental review process from an average of 15 years down to 7; we found ways to increase the role of state and local governments while working to get the federal government out of the way at every opportunity; and we made sure that states were able to spend highway money on their highest priorities rather than being forced to address Washington's priorities. I look forward to Congress passing this bipartisan jobs bill as soon as possible."


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