McCollum Supports LaHood’s Call for Working Group to Come to Consensus to Build St. Croix River Bridge

For Immediate Release: November 16, 2011
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Washington, DC – Tonight, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement after meeting with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and several members of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Congressional delegations to discuss a replacement bridge over the St. Croix River. During the meeting, Secretary LaHood proposed the formation of a working group to find consensus on the scope and size of this project.

"Secretary LaHood has exactly the right approach in bringing Members of Congress together in a working group to build consensus on constructing a new St. Croix River bridge. If we embrace Secretary LaHood's proposal, we can get a bridge built that is fiscally responsible, appropriately scaled and meets the area's transportation needs.

"Finding consensus is clearly important because today's meeting revealed Minnesota is now at risk of losing millions of dollars in federal transportation funding. With more than a thousand structurally deficient bridges, in addition to the Lift Bridge, those scarce dollars and the jobs they create must not be lost."

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees.

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