(Published July 14‚ 2003)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A proposed federal highway bill would mean $1.6 billion more for highway needs in South Carolina, a group of congressmen said Monday.

In all, the state would receive about $4.4 billion over six years. Transportation officials said some of that will go to building Interstate 73 along the Grand Strand, considered South Carolina's most pressing highway need.

U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee visited Charleston with U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ariz., a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

South Carolina U.S. Reps. Henry Brown and Jim DeMint, both Republicans, joined the two as they briefed local officials on the proposed transportation bill expected to go to the full House next month.

Petri is visiting 10 communities nationwide.

"It's a real coup for us to have him here," said Brown, adding new roads on the coast are vital to tourism. "We cannot afford to simply maintain the current transportation infrastructure," he said.