WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today applauded Senate action to pass legislation that will keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent and prevent the delay of highway construction projects in Mississippi and across the country.   

“This bill ensures the funds are in place to keep important highway construction projects in Mississippi and across the country moving forward,” Wicker said.  “Our transportation infrastructure is a critical component of our economy, so addressing this issue quickly was important.  While I am glad immediate action was taken to provide this short-term solution, a permanent solution to the Highway Trust Fund’s solvency must be addressed quickly by Congress.”

The legislation replenished the Highway Trust Fund with $8 billion that had been transferred to the general fund 10 years ago.  The move was needed because the Department of Transportation announced last Friday that the Highway Trust Fund would run out of money sometime in the next two weeks because of diminished receipts from the gas tax due to high gas prices.

The bill was passed by voice vote in the Senate last night.  It now needs to be approved the House of Representatives before being sent to President Bush.