U.S. Senators Collins, Murray, Reed, And Durbin Introduce TIGER Act
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan “Transportation Infrastructure Grants and Economic Reinvestment” (TIGER) Act, a bill that would authorize the successful TIGER discretionary grant program. As such, the legislation would authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants and Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans to States, local governments, ports, and transit agencies for critical transportation projects throughout the country.
"One of my highest priorities in the Senate is working to ensure that our nation's transportation infrastructure does not fall into disrepair. Across the country, and in my home state of Maine, TIGER grants have been essential to rebuilding our infrastructure, getting our economy moving, creating jobs, and providing increased public safety,” said Senator Collins, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “To date, the state of Maine has received more than $90 million for highway, bridge, transit, rail, and port projects. As the demand for this important funding remains, I look forward to working with Senator Murray to build on the success of the TIGER grant program by reauthorizing these critical economic investments."
“The TIGER program represents exactly the type of investment our country should be making--addressing our nation’s long-standing transportation needs while creating good-paying, American jobs,” said Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “I was proud to put the wheels in motion on this program during the depths of the recession when our nation needed jobs the most, but based on the demand that continues to this day, it’s clear, we can and should be doing so much more to help communities carry out projects that make our transportation systems safer and more efficient. This bipartisan bill will keep our nation’s economic momentum going in the right direction and I applaud Senators Collins and Durbin for being my partners in this effort.”
“The TIGER program is critically important for states and local communities to help fund infrastructure projects that create jobs and spur economic growth, and we've seen the tremendous benefits of this program first-hand in Rhode Island," said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. "The competitive TIGER program funds projects all over the country that connect our communities and improve the efficiency of our supply chain, helping us compete in the global economy. We must continue to strengthen investment in our nation's transportation infrastructure, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the TIGER program and keep our country moving.”
“Illinois lies at the heart of our nation’s transportation network, and communities in my state – from Chicago to Alton – have seen the benefits of the TIGER Grant Program firsthand,” said Senator Durbin, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “But our infrastructure needs remain high, and supporting a program that will invest in our highways, bridges, airports, rails, and port projects is critical to our economic future and the safety of travelers throughout the country.”
The TIGER Act, which authorizes funding for the TIGER grant program that Senator Murray created in 2009, invests in a variety of transportation modes, selects projects through a transparent, competitive and merit-based process, and requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide a full description of how applications will be evaluated. The grant program also ensures that projects across the country are funded, and includes several provisions to balance the needs of urban and rural areas.
