November 1, 2007 (LPAC)--Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) on Oct. 30, introduced "The National Highway bridge Inspection and Reconstruction Act," in the House of Representatives, to authorize $2 billion through 2009, to repair the nation's worst bridges. He acted in response to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in his home state this past Summer, which killed 13 people. Though Oberstar in the past has spoken of the need for Federal infrastructure programs funded through a capital budget process, outside the constrictions of debt and operating expenses, his proposal is within the usual constraints and small. The $2 billion is puny in light of the scale of need to remedy the outmoded and dangerous bridges in the country. Oberstar's own press release noted that, "The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that it would cost over $188 billion to repair the nation's 73,784 structurally-deficient bridges." Referring to the dismal state of inaction in Congress, Oberstar lamented of his new draft law, "This is not the bill that I had hoped to introduce, but fixing bridges is more important than fighting with the White House and the Senate. Let's pass this bill and get to work on the problem."