(Host) The U.S. Senate passed a major transportation bill Wednesday that would provide $408 million for Vermont over the next two years.
The bill was co-written by Senator Bernie Sanders, who says the funding is essential to any progress being made on the state’s infrastructure.
(Sanders) "About one third of our bridges and our federal aid roads are in disrepair, and anyone who drives around the state of Vermont knows that quite well, so we need a lot of work."
(Host) Sanders added an amendment to the bill that would allow federal funds to cover 100 percent of the cost of road repairs in states recovering from natural disasters, such as Tropical Storm Irene.
(Sanders) "What that will mean is, given the enormous expense that the state of Vermont incurred as a result of Hurricane Irene, this could mean another $20 million coming into the state."
(Host) The bill now moves on to the U.S. House.