releases: https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=96f18b66-7dbb-475e-829f-f624f65ccb30
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=96f18b66-7dbb-475e-829f-f624f65ccb30 | Hatch Praised for Central Role in Passage of First Long-Term Highway Bill in a Decade, Securing Utah Priorities | 2015-12-04 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTONLateThursday evening the Senate voted 83-16 for the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the first long-term highway bill to pass Congress in a decade. The billwhich neither raises taxes nor adds to the deficitwill provide state and local leaders with the security and stability they need to plan and complete critical infrastructure projects around the country. The measure is expected to be signed into law shortly. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) spearheaded efforts in Congress to provide funding for a bipartisan multi-year highway bill. Today, he also signed the bill in his capacity as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Weve heard time and again that a long-term highway bill would only be possible if we included a big tax increase, Hatch said. Yet weve been able to defy the odds and provide much-needed funding for Americas bridges, highways, and roads for the next five years. This marks a watershed moment for our transportation community, who will now have the security and stability they need to plan, implement, and complete critical infrastructure projects. Senator Hatchs role in securing this legislationparticularly his responsibility for paying for the bill without adding to the deficit or raising taxeswas praised by both local and national leaders. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said of Hatch: Workhorsenot showhorseis always how Orrin Hatch conducts himself in the Senate. His leadership and perseverance have been critical to getting the longest highway bill in almost 20 years through the Congress when few thought we could get this done. Heres what local leaders in Utah have said about Senator Hatchs efforts: Andrew Gruber, Executive Director, Wasatch Front Regional Council- "We applaud Senator Hatch for leading the way in helping to address Utah's transportation needs, as he worked to fund and pass a new long-term transportation bill. The FAST Act will provide critical investments for Utahs Unified Transportation Plan," said Wasatch Front Regional Council Executive Director Andrew Gruber. "Utah is one of the fastest growing states in the country, and this bill will help us keep up with the increasing demands on our roads, bridges, transit and trails, while prudently taking care of our existing infrastructure." Jerry Benson, Interim President/CEO, Utah Transit Authority- UTA is pleased with the Federal Transportation bill just passed by Congress and signed by President Obama today. Senator Hatch has been a tireless leader and the architect of this bill that, for the first time in a decade, provides a fully funded, five year program that supports critical investments in our public transit system. TJ England, Vice President & General Counsel , C.R. England, Inc- "I applaud Senator Hatchs role and leadership in working to fund and pass a long-term highway bill. This bill takes important steps to improve trucking safety standards and highway infrastructure. The FAST Act strikes a proper balance in supporting the trucking industry with long-term funding and appropriate safety standards, while also recognizing the important contribution the industry plays in Utah's and the national economy. Because nearly 70% of all freight tonnage moved in the U.S. is transported on trucks, weall benefit fromstrengthened infrastructure anddecreased regulatory burdens placed on interstate commerce. Simply put, this long-term highway bill helps the trucking industrydrive the nations economy forward by providing to the nation all of the products it needs on a daily basis, such as food, medicine, consumer goods, fuel, and manufacturing supplies." Lane Beattie, President and CEO, SLC Chamber- "The Utah business community applauds the leadership of Senator Hatch in achieving themonumentalpassage of theFAST Actthatprovidesconsistentinvestment in our transportationinfrastructureandgives our state agencies stability to plan for the future.Additionally, weapplaudthe permit streamlining provisions of the FAST act to accelerate investment and growth in our state's economy. Taken together, these long-standing Chamberprioritieswill provide the certainty to help businesses plan, create jobs, and strengthen Utah's economy.It is in efforts just like this where we see the influence and impact of Senator Hatch's leadership. " Carlos Braceras, Executive Director, UDOT- "We appreciate the hard work of Senator Hatch to secure passage of a five-year transportation bill, which will provide Utah with the long-term federal commitment needed to adequately plan and fund projects that will help meet Utah's current and future transportation needs. We were pleased to work with Senator Hatch and his staff to secure policy provisions in the bill that will help UDOT with project delivery, ensuring that Utahns receive the most value for their transportation investment. We are grateful for the Senator's leadership and commitment to making sure that Utah's transportation priorities are appropriately represented and provided for in this significant legislation." Scott Parsons, President, Staker Parson (Ready-Mized Concrete and Asphalt Company) I applaud Senator Hatchs role and leadership in working to fund and pass a long-term, highway bill. A long-term highway bill is a big win for Utah, our economy, quality of life and the men and women who build our roads and bridges. Over the last decade, multiple short-term highway bill extensions have stifled the construction of Utahs transportation system. The FAST Act will provide the funding certainty needed to plan, design and build our states infrastructure. This bill will enable thousands of Utahns in the construction and manufacturing industry to continue to work on transportation and infrastructure projects with stability and certainty, for years to come. Background Senator Hatch proposed two amendments that will greatly benefit Utah, and have been included in the underlying bill. More background and quotes from Utah supporters follow. Freeway Access Amendment:Clarifies MAP-21 language to grant states the existing authority to review and approve rural and urban interchange access to the Interstate System Reobligation of Funds:Will allow funds that have been obligated from a closed-out project to be reobligated within that same fiscal year to another project in the same category of funds NEPA Delegation Program Improvement:Improves the Surface Transportation ProjectDelivery Program (NEPA Delegation Program) by clarifying the responsibilities of participating states, by limiting the USDOTs information-gathering authority, and making the programs audit process less biased and more efficient. Hatch's Finance Committee is responsible for the financing title of any highway bill that goes through the Senate and usually works within its jurisdiction to identify offsets. Because those resources had been quickly drying up, they had to look elsewhere for this package. After the committee spent weeks examining numerous options and alternatives, Senator Hatch was able to present Sen. McConnell with a list of offsets that, while not necessarily ideal, would allow the Senate to put together a long-term highway bill without raising taxes or increasing the deficit. Following House action on a separate highway bill this fall, Hatch was appointed to serve on the Highway Conference Committee, to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House bills. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |