Washington, D.C. - Legislation introduced by Nevada Senator Harry Reid to restore significant cuts in federal highway spending proposed by the Bush Administration passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today. Reid chairs the Senate's transportation subcommittee and proposed legislation increasing next year's federal highway spending to $28.9 billion, an increase of $5.7 billion over what President Bush proposed.

Under Reid's proposal, Nevada will receive $35 million more than what President Bush has proposed, raising the amount from $149.5 million to $184.5 million.

"The cuts in highway funding included in the President's budget would be a disaster to state highway programs. That is why I am working with my Senate colleagues to restore as much of that funding as possible," Senator Reid said. "Increased funding for highway programs means more jobs, reduced congestion, improved safety, better quality of life, and economic growth."

Reid introduced the legislation with the EPW Committee Chairman Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and then ranking member, Bob Smith (R-NH) in February of this year and it currently has 75 Senate co-sponsors.

"This legislation is critically important to Nevada and to the nation as a whole," Senator Reid said. "Every billion dollars we spend on transportation projects creates 42,000 jobs in addition improving safety.

The proposal must now go before the full Senate for consideration. The House has approved similar legislation.