Since 2009, Congress has failed to come to an agreement on long-term highway funding, opting instead to pass 34 stopgap measures to keep money flowing. That’s not good government.

The U.S. Senate recently passed a 35th stopgap measure that is now headed to the president’s desk. But senators, under the leadership of Mitch McConnell, R, Ky., also thought long-term, passing a six-year, $2 billion bill that would give states some clarity and certainty when planning highway and infrastructure projects. Unfortunately, the House didn’t take up that bill before its month-long August recess, leaving the bill in limbo.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., says she’s optimistic about the future of federal highway funding, the Gazette-Mail’s Joel Ebert reported. Speaking at a press event Monday, the freshman senator said her colleagues in the upper chamber are pushing the House to act on the long-term solution.

“I just think it’s absolutely essential to safety, to commerce, to the individual ease of life,” Capito said, saying she’s concerned a lack of funding would mean roads like Route 35, Corridor H and the King Coal Highway would remain incomplete. She’d also like to see something done to address congestion in the north central part of the state, where natural gas drilling has brought more people to the area.

Reps. Evan Jenkins and David McKinley, both Republicans, said they are encouraging their colleagues in the House to pass the Senate bill.

Expanding the nation’s infrastructure is expensive but necessary to grow the U.S. economy. Although many goods can be distributed via air or water, often times the cheapest and easiest way for companies to distribute their goods is by trucks and trains. That means highways and railroads must be reliable and appropriately maintained in order to carry these loads.

Construction workers and contractors also are dependent on federal funds so they can plan their own personal and business futures. They, too, contribute to the economy by buying homes or cars, eating at restaurants and purchasing goods for their families. They can’t do those things if they’re out of work and not making money.

Maintenance and expansion isn’t cheap, but it must be prioritized if we expect our economy to grow. America must invest in infrastructure.

Kudos to the Senate for passing a long-term solution. We hope the House does the same.