A group of Republican and Democratic Senators have releases a transportation package that would increase funding for highways, and roads and bridges. The measure coming out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee would increase funding by 34 percent to a baseline of about $300 billion over five years. South Dakota House Transportation Committee Chairman Caleb Finck of Tripp is pleased to see the federal government trying to address infrastructure needs.

He says infrastructure upkeep is not only a safety issue but also an economic development issue that’s critical for South Dakota and several other rural states.

Finck’s advise to Congress is to make sure any infrastructure legislation that is approved is not complicated but helps states with their road, bridge and highway needs.

Not only is the Senate Environment bill up for consideration but last week House Republicans introduced a $400 billion surface transportation funding measure. Also in the offing is a $1.7 trillion infrastructure legislation proposed by President Joe Biden. That was trimmed from an original cost of $2.3 trillion.