{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-boehner-delays-on-sewalls-falls-bridge-unacceptable-long-term", "Kuster to Boehner: Delays on Sewalls Falls Bridge Unacceptable; Long-Term Highway Funding Bill Cant Wait Until Next Year", "2014-09-24", "2014", "2014-09", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) has called on Speaker John Boehner to work with both parties to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund and other surface transportation programs before the end of this year.\u00a0 The Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which provides crucial funding to states for road and bridge projects like the Sewalls Falls Bridge and the I-93 expansion, nearly ran out of money this summer before Congress acted at the last-minute with a short-term funding patch.\nIn the letter to Speaker Boehner, Kuster highlights funding delays for the Sewalls Falls Bridge, a critical transportation link for East Concord residents, which were caused as a result of potential funding shortfalls in the HTF this summer.\u00a0 The aging bridge, which will turn 100 next year, is operating under a reduced weight limit which prevents emergency services vehicles from using the bridge.\u00a0 Structural problems will force the closure of the bridge on December 1, 2014, adding additional commuting time and costs for East Concord residents.\nFor more than a year, Kuster worked with Senator Jeanne Shaheen to secure the funding and approvals for the replacement project to move forward. \u201cBut then came the prospect of the Highway Trust Fund going broke by August, coupled with months of inaction by Congress to shore up the Fund and avert that crisis,\u201d Kuster says in the letter. \u201cThe result was a perfect storm that has delayed funding for the Sewalls Falls Bridge and forced the early closure of the aging structure.\u201d\nKuster has been urging the Speaker and her colleagues in Congress to address this transportation funding crisis since the beginning of this year, and she has repeatedly called on House leadership to take immediate action so that delays like the one facing the Sewalls Falls Bridge could be averted.\u00a0 In May, Kuster introduced the DRIVE Now Act, legislation which would have provided funding certainty for critical transportation projects and given Congress time to pass a full, six-year reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund and other surface transportation programs.\u00a0\nLast fall, Kuster joined Shaheen for a tour of the Sewalls Falls Bridge, and earlier this year, she toured the I-93 construction project in Windham and the Route 10 bridge replacement project in Winchester to highlight the urgent need to pass responsible legislation to save the Highway Trust Fund.\nThe full text of Congresswoman Kuster\u2019s letter is here and below:\n\u00a0\nSeptember 18, 2014\nThe Honorable John A. Boehner  \n\tSpeaker  \n\tU.S. House of Representatives  \n\tH-232, The Capitol  \n\tWashington, DC 20515  \n\t\u00a0\nDear Mr. Speaker:\nIn East Concord, NH, residents have to wait twice as long as normal for ambulances to respond when called.\u00a0 Soon, they will also have to drive more than 15 minutes out of the way to get to work.\u00a0 That is because the Sewalls Falls Bridge, a critical transportation link with a reduced weight limit, will be closing permanently on December 1, 2014.\nI bring this story to your attention because it didn\u2019t have to happen.\u00a0 The City of Concord, NH has been working closely with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation on plans to replace the aging bridge, which will turn 100 next year.\u00a0 The proper approvals were granted and the design for the replacement bridge is nearly finished.\u00a0 The project was on track this summer to move forward with bidding, knowing that 80 percent of the $10 million project would be covered by funding from the federal government.\nBut then came the prospect of the Highway Trust Fund going broke by August, coupled with months of inaction by Congress to shore up the Fund and avert that crisis.\u00a0 The result was a perfect storm that has delayed funding for the Sewalls Falls Bridge and forced the early closure of the aging structure.\nThis is just one example of why the Highway Trust Fund is so important to New Hampshire and communities across our country.\u00a0 Without reliable funding we will continue to see our transportation infrastructure degrade, jeopardizing public safety and hurting our economy.\u00a0 More than 30 million people visit New Hampshire every year, making tourism one of our state\u2019s largest economic drivers.\u00a0 But without safe and efficient roads and bridges visitors won\u2019t come, and our economy will pay the price.\nThe extension of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) and authorization for the Highway Trust Fund is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2015.\u00a0 This will be right as states and businesses are planning and starting construction projects, and I am already hearing from businesses in my district who are concerned that uncertainty leading up to the end of May will result in many important projects being put on the shelf for the year.\u00a0 We simply cannot afford to let this happen.\nI urge you to work with Republicans and Democrats to craft a common sense, long-term reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund and our surface transportation programs by the end of this year.\u00a0 Too much is at stake if we let time run out.\u00a0 We cannot kick the can down the road any further.\nThank you for your attention to this issue of significant importance to the people of my district.\u00a0 I appreciate your consideration of my request and I stand ready to work with both parties to find common ground on a full six-year reauthorization of our surface transportation programs.\u00a0 The people of East Concord, NH and families all across this great nation are counting on us to get this done.\nSincerely, Ann McLane Kuster  \n\tMember of Congress \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-boehner-delays-on-sewalls-falls-bridge-unacceptable-long-term"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9365419391542673, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}