KATIE DEMPSEY APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF BILL CREATING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK

 “Innovative Idea Provides Real Solutions to Transportation Problems”

ATLANTA—Georgia State Representative Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) today applauded action by the full House this week approving the creation of a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank.  House Bill 1019 was adopted by the full House with nearly unanimous, bipartisan support.

'This is an idea that I have been working on with my colleagues for years, and I am thrilled to finally see us take a step closer to its realization,” Dempsey said.  'Transportation continues to be a problem for our state and one that touches all of us no matter where we live in Georgia.  This statewide bank will give Georgia communities, especially more rural communities, the funding source they need to complete vital transportation projects and at a low interest rate.  This is a step in the right direction and I look forward to standing with Governor Perdue when this legislation reaches his desk.”

Prior to serving in the Georgia House of Representatives, Dempsey was appointed by Governor Perdue to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Local Transportation Strategies.  Among other ideas put forth by the group, they recommended a statewide bank that would be able to make loans available to Georgia communities for local transportation projects.

House Bill 1019 creates the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank using federal highway dollars, state funds appropriated by the General Assembly, private donations, payments and interest on loans, money from other government units, bonds and other sources earmarked for the bank.  The Bank will be governed by the State Road and Tollway Authority.  Low interest loans will be made to communities for constructing and improving highway and transportation facilities for public purposes including economic development.

“We have not just talked about transportation, we have taken action,” Dempsey continued.  “This is an innovative, forward thinking idea and I look forward to the day the first community is awarded a loan for their local transportation project.”

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