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Congressman Cohen Named to Highway Bill Conference Committee

November 5, 2015

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today was named to the House-Senate Conference Committee for the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill: the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (DRIVE Act).

“As the Congressman for Tennessee’s Ninth District, our nation’s transportation hub, I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve on the Conference Committee for the highway funding bill,” said Congressman Cohen. “I will continue to fight to bring needed funds and programs back to Memphis to invest in our roads, bridges, and mass transit. I will also push to keep my amendment to help improve local transit services for persons with disabilities in the final bill. After 35 short-term funding extensions, it’s time for Congress to pass a bipartisan long-term highway funding bill. I look forward to being a part of the conversation to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and put American families back to work.”

Both the House and Senate have passed different versions of the DRIVE Act. Under the Constitution, Congress has to agree on the same text of a bill in order to send it to the President for signature. Conference Committees serve as a way for the House and Senate to reach agreement on legislation which must then be passed again by both the House and Senate. As a Highway bill conferee, Congressman Cohen will collaborate with members of the House and Senate to come to a bipartisan and bicameral compromise on our nation’s surface transportation funding.