Press Release

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. voted today to continue the funding for infrastructure in the Highway Trust Fund for two more months. He made the following statement:

"I voted to continue critical funding for our infrastructure for the short-term because we cannot in good conscience abandon or delay vital infrastructure projects during the busy summer months. These projects support too many jobs, and are too important to our communities' safety to play politics. We must, however, stop these short-term patches and work together to find a long-term solution for fixing our outdated roads, bridges and levees that isn't fiscally irresponsible, and doesn't raise the gasoline tax on families who are already struggling. That's vital to Sacramento County's public safety and to our economic growth."

America's infrastructure received a D+ grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2013 based on physical condition and needed investments for improvement.

Bera is a sponsor of the Partnership to Build America Act, bipartisan legislation to rebuild America's infrastructure at no cost to taxpayers. Currently, transportation infrastructure projects are funded by the Highway Trust Fund, which is sustained by a tax on gasoline. Some have suggested raising that tax as gasoline tax receipts have declined. Bera has repeatedly been against this approach because it unfairly hurts middle class families and small businesses, and puts a strain on our economy.

Bera has represented Sacramento County in Congress since 2013. Born and raised in California, he is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He's fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country's debt in a responsible way. One of Bera's first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don't pass a budget, they don't get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he's working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.