Scott Statement on House Passage of H.R. 3236, the Surface Transportation & Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after his "NO" vote on the passage of H.R. 3236, the Surface Transportation & Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act, in the House of Representatives:

"Dressing up a short term extension of the Highway Trust Fund with an important V.A. bill does not overcome the importance of enacting a long term, six-year transportation reauthorization that provides the certainty states and local governments need to plan transportation projects.

"While it is important that the V.A.'s doors remain open, it is irresponsible for our nation's veterans to be used as leverage to pass yet another short term transportation bill.

"We will never achieve a six-year transportation reauthorization as long as short term extensions continue to pass Congress. Without a long term reauthorization, states and local governments will never get the necessary certainty that a long term extension would provide. Therefore, I voted no."

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Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott represents the 3rd Congressional District of Virginia, which includes all or parts of the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Portsmouth, and Richmond and the Counties of Charles City, Henrico, Prince George, and Surry. In Congress, he serves as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.