June 16, 2015
By LaborPress
An amendment to a transportation-funding bill passed by the House June 9 could jeopardize nearly $3 billion in federal funding for building California's high-speed rail system. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), would prohibit future federal aid to the project unless the California High Speed Rail Authority can prove it can come up with a matching amount.
"It's disappointing that the House of Representatives wants to compromise jobs and progress for the state," said Kevin Ferreira, financial secretary and treasurer for the Sacramento-Sierras Building and Construction Trades Council. "We'll just have to see where the Senate goes.” The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the bill. The rail line, which would link Los Angeles and San Francisco, is projected to be completed by 2029 and cost $67.5 billion. Read more
