PRESS RELEASE: Letourneau Joins New Hampshire Leaders Call for Federal Highway Funding Fix

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2008

Contact:    Erik Taylor

                  Elevare Communications

                  (603) 496-6961

                  taylor@elevare.com

Letourneau Joins New Hampshire Leaders Call for Federal Highway Funding Fix

Federal funding key to important projects to Derry, Windham and Hampstead

CONCORD – State Senator Bob Letourneau (R-Derry), who represents the towns of Derry, Windham and Hampstead, joined other state leaders today in calling on Congress to address the pending shortfall in the federal highway trust fund (HTF).  Experts predict that New Hampshire could lose as much as $52 million in federal highway funding starting in October if Congress does not pass legislation to shore up the HTF.

“Road projects, such as the widening of I-93, are critical to my constituents and our local economy,” said Letourneau.  “I have fought hard to ensure that these projects continue to move forward, but I fear that cutting one-third of the state’s federal funding would delay these projects and place a greater burden on my communities and constituents.”

Senator Letourneau, who Chairs the Senate Transportation and Interstate Cooperation Committee, joined Congressman Paul Hodes (D-Cong. Dist 2), Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord), Speaker Terri Norelli (D-Portsmouth), Executive Councilor Ray Burton (R-Bath) and Chair of the House Public Works and Highways Committee Candace Bouchard (D-Concord) to support legislation that restores full federal highway funding to New Hampshire for Fiscal Year 2009.  The U.S. House of Representative passed HR 6532 last week 387-37, and the bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

“Many would say my communities, Derry, Windham and Hampstead, are the gateway communities of our southern border providing critical access points to our state for both commerce and tourism,” said Letourneau.  “These communities greatly rely on safe and efficient road system,”

Letourneau said he has been working on addressing this problem for the past few months, and thanked Senator Sununu, Congressman Hodes and the other elected officials for there bipartisan support for finding a solution to the problem.