Malinowski’s first bill eliminates Gateway obstacle

Rep. Tom Malinowski’s first bill as a new congressman would clear one of the obstacles to building the Gateway tunnel.

The Transportation Funding Fairness Act would allow states to count federal transportation loans towards their shares of large-scale, jointly funded infrastructure projects.  Malinowski (D-Rocky Hill) says that the Trump administration says federal loans taken out by states cannot be included as part of a jointly funded project.

“Funding for infrastructure is one issue on which I think the Congress can make progress this year, and this bill can be an important part of that effort,” Malinowski said.

Nine New Jersey House members have co-sponsored Malinowski’s bill; only Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) and Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) have not signed on in support of the legislation.

“Treating these loans as part of the Federal share is like telling a homeowner that even though they paid off a mortgage with their own money, their house still belongs to the bank,” said Jerry Zaro, the Gateway Development Corporation chairman.