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FHWA By Day

A Look at the History of the Federal Highway Administration
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December 23
1982 Overcoming a 13-day filibuster intended to block a gas-tax increase, the Senate votes 81-5 to approve the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. (Signed January 6, 1983, see entry.) Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis says, "We think this is a tremendous move forward for transportation." To break the deadlock, several Senators arrived in Washington, DC, today on military aircraft and were taken to the Capitol for the vote in police cars with lights flashing and sirens wailing.
1983 In an open letter to readers of Better Roads, President Ronald Reagan says, "The rehabilitation of America's highways is essential if we are to maintain the economic recovery that is already under way." He adds, "I can think of no other government program which more effectively illustrates the way in which federal, state and local authorities should work together, in conjunction with private industry, to meet the needs of the public."
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