The U.S. Labor Department announced the unemployment rate fell to 6.1 in June, a group of environmental associations and labor unions is urging Congress to ensure funding for America’s highways.

“The job market is steadily improving but the threat that Congress will let the Highway Trust Fund go bankrupt looms large. Despite months of debate, lawmakers have failed to act. They’re putting thousands of jobs on the line.  

“It’s time we let construction workers, manufacturers and small businesses get to the work of revitalizing America’s infrastructure systems—especially during the height of construction season—without Congress mucking it up,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Kim Glas.“Congress must authorize a fully funded, long-term plan — like the Grow America Act proposed by the administration and Department of Transportation — to fix the problems caused by decades of deferred maintenance and to repair and modernize our infrastructure to support a prosperous 21st century economy.” 

 The BlueGreen Alliance’s members include sheet metal works union, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, formerly known as Sheet Metal Workers union.