North Cook News

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Dist. 9) released a statement after she voted with a House majority to advance H.R. 22, The Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, to a House-Senate conference committee.

"It is long past time that we enact a long-term transportation bill to provide certainty to states, localities, businesses and workers," Schakowsky said. "The motion to go to conference moves that process forward by allowing House and Senate negotiators to hash out a final deal. I was proud to support it."

The bill did not include Schakowsky's suggested amendment, which focused on consumer safety, including issues with vehicle safety, reducing pedestrian deaths, protecting back-seat passengers and requiring repairs to all recalled vehicles. Schakowsky said she did not support the House amendments, which sought to cut funding for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and weaken the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards on auto emissions. In addition, the House amendments would allow heavier trucks on some highways and change the safety requirements for some new vehicles.

"I hope and expect that the upcoming conference committee will eliminate the harmful provisions added in the House and emerge with a bipartisan bill that will strengthen our infrastructure, economy, and safety," Schakowsky said.