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In , Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer expressed concern that proposed reauthorization levels for federal transportation funds could result in the loss of jobs and cause structural deficiencies in transportation infrastructures to go unrepaired.

The current reauthorization proposals would commit between $215 billion to $230 billion over six years, a 31 percent reduction from prior funding levels. In a letter to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica and Ranking Member Nick Rahall, Blumenauer and Reps. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Mike Simpson, R-Utah, said that funding is far too little. According to an estimate endorsed by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. must invest an additional $1 trillion beyond current levels in the next 10 years to maintain transportation infrastructure in a good state of repair and meet demand for transportation funds.

Blumenauer spokesman Derek Schlickeisen said it is too early to say what specific projects in Oregon could be affected by the reduction in funds, but he said that the reduced funding levels would mean a loss of 5,900 jobs in Oregon. The particular funds in question are the same that are accessed for projects including the Sellwood Bridge replacement, Schlickeisen said.