LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP: Rep. Bresnahan advances historic bridge, road, transportation investments

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-Dallas Township, voted this week to deliver the largest bridge investment in American history, putting real money into the roads and bridges that working families in Northeastern Pennsylvania depend on every day.

According to information provided by Bresnahan’s office, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the bill 62-2, with strong bipartisan support, advancing railway safety, protecting our roads and bridges from damage caused by heavier trucks, and sending more resources to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP).

“Our roads, bridges, and transportation networks keep NEPA moving, connect workers to jobs, and support local businesses,” said Bresnahan. “Too many communities are dealing with aging infrastructure that has been overlooked for too long. I’m proud to champion the largest bridge investment in American history and fight for policies that protect the workers who make these projects possible. NEPA is long overdue for its fair share of infrastructure investment. Our roads, bridges, and railroads must be safe, reliable, and built to last, and this bill delivers on that promise.”

Bresnahan successfully passed several of his amendments during the markup, including:

• An amendment to include the Railway Safety Act in the final legislation, a bill he cosponsored in March. The Railway Safety Act strengthens requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials, mandates two-person crews on major freight railroads, supports first responders through expanded training and reimbursement programs, and invests in new rail safety technologies to help prevent future derailments.

• An amendment to help ensure the competitive bridge funding is distributed fairly to communities across the Commonwealth, including rural areas and smaller municipalities that also struggle to access federal dollars.

• An amendment to expand roadside protections to better account for the needs of disabled vehicle occupants involved in crashes. Bresnahan’s remarks on these amendments can be viewed here.

• An amendment creating a pilot program aimed at improving motorcoach-to-flight connections at airports. The proposal benefits airports like Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), helping strengthen travel access for families, businesses, and visitors throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“This is a big deal for AVP and airports who rely on motorcoach-to-flight connections for getting their passengers where they need to go,” said Bresnahan. “This amendment helps ensure passenger counts accurately reflect the number of people traveling through AVP’s doors, putting AVP within reach of more funding and grant opportunities for the infrastructure they need to compete and succeed.”

• An amendment to include the Traffic Safety Enhancement Act of 2025, legislation that authorizes federal surface transportation block grants for roundabout construction, a proven tool for increasing efficiency and reducing traffic fatalities.