Shaheen Priorities in Highway Bill Head to President's Desk

**Includes Shaheen-authored legislation to stop discriminatory motorcycle-only checkpoints and reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank** 

**Long-term transportation bill also provides increase in funds for New Hampshire and financial certainty for road and bridge projects across the state**

(Washington, DC)—Last night, the Senate passed a long-term highway transportation bill, which includes several priorities championed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). In addition to providing financial certainty for transportation projects across New Hampshire, the bill includes Senator Shaheen’s legislation to block any federal funding of discriminatory motorcycle-only road checkpoints and finally reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank through 2019.

“Motorcycles are an important part of New Hampshire’s identity and economy and checkpoints that target just motorcyclists are both discriminatory and ineffective,” said Shaheen. “My legislation will ensure that the federal government plays no role in setting up motorcycle-only checkpoints in the Granite State or anywhere else.”

“Granite State businesses are producing cutting-edge products that are in demand around the world, and many of them count on the Export-Import Bank to help finance their exports,” Shaheen continued. “I’m very glad that the Export-Import bank will soon be back in business supporting New Hampshire jobs.”

Earlier this year, Senator Shaheen introduced legislation in the Senate to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank and has traveled throughout New Hampshire to highlight the businesses that rely on its financing to get their products to international consumers. Since 2007, the Export-Import Bank has supported over 2,300 jobs in New Hampshire. Last year alone, the bank supported $29.2 million in Granite State exports, 60% of which came from small businesses.

In recent years, Congress has passed 36 short-term highway funding extensions that have not provided the guarantee of funding that’s often needed for local officials and construction companies to plan ahead, hire workers and complete construction. Next year, this new five-year transportation bill will provide a 5 percent increase in funding for New Hampshire transportation projects. Senator Shaheen has been a vocal supporter of a long-term highway bill and, this year, has traveled around New Hampshire to put a spotlight on stalled and threatened transportation projects.

“This transportation bill is good news for jobs, public safety and commerce in New Hampshire,” said Shaheen. “Granite Staters are ready to get to work repairing our roads and bridges, and this bill provides the long-awaited assurance that the federal funds will be there to complete construction projects across our state.”