As part of the Transportation Construction Coalition, Íæż½ã½ã and other coalition members have launched a new advertising campaign in Capitol Hill-targeted publications (including today's Roll Call) to push for immediate passage of a six-year surface transportation investment bill.
Íæż½ã½ã's Brian Deery, Senior Director, Highway and Transportation Division, discussed the need for a revenue increase in the highway reauthorization legislation to address the nation's transportation woes in a video address.The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials created TransportationTV to communicate with the public about transportation issues. This week AASHTO initiated a new segment to its broadcast called "Voices of Transportation",  which features interviews with transportation industry experts. The first interview in this new segment is with Íæż½ã½ã's Brian Deery. Watch on the web at: www.transportationtv.org.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-Minn.) hopes to have a transportation reauthorization bill passed before the House recesses for the summer may not be fulfilled. A markup of the legislation tentatively scheduled by the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit for June 17 has been postponed. The "Big Four" (Committee and Subcommittee Chairs and ranking members) met this week to discuss the proposed legislation and did not agree on a set of principles for inclusion in the bill. Before moving to markup, the four plan to meet again to agree on the principles. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said last week that the reauthorization bill likely won't make it to the House floor until after the Fourth of July recess. The House Ways and Means Committee, which must address the revenue portion of the bill, has not decided how to fund the measure and has scheduled a series of hearings to discuss the issue starting on June 25.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) briefed members of the relevant House and Senate Committees about the revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that could cause a slowdown in payments to states as early as mid-July. The Obama Administration has indicated that an infusion of $5 billion to $7 billion will be necessary soon in order to fully fund existing commitments through September 30, 2009, or the end of fiscal year 2009.At a hearing last week on the nomination of Victor Mendez for Highway Administrator, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) reported that in addition to the funds needed for FY 2009 an additional $8 billion to $10 billion will be necessary to get through FY 2010. The President's budget indicated that as much as $36 billion could be needed in FY 2010 to prevent a shortfall in funding.At a hearing last week before the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood indicated that the Administration will be working with Congress to ensure that this cash flow problem does not result in a slowdown in payments to states to reimburse ongoing highway construction.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been briefing members of the relevant House and Senate Committees about the revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that could cause a slowdown in payments to states as early as mid-July. The Obama Administration has indicated that an infusion of $5 billion to $7 billion will be necessary soon in order to fully fund existing commitments through September 30, 2009, or the end of fiscal year 2009.At a hearing this week on the nomination of Victor Mendez for Highway Administrator, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) reported that in addition to the funds needed for FY 2009 an additional $8 billion to $10 billion will be necessary to get through FY 2010. The President's budget indicated that as much as $36 billion could be needed in FY 2010 to prevent a shortfall in funding.At a hearing today before the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood indicated that the Administration will be working with Congress to ensure that this cash flow problem does not result in a slowdown in payments to states to reimburse ongoing highway construction.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-Minn.) hopes to have a transportation reauthorization bill passed before the House recesses for the summer may not be fulfilled. A markup of the legislation tentatively scheduled by the T&I Subcommittee on Highways and Transit for June 17 has been postponed. The "Big Four" (Committee and Subcommittee Chairs and ranking members) met this week to discuss the proposed legislation and did not agree on a set of principles for inclusion in the bill. Before moving to markup the four plan to meet again to agree on the principles. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-M.) said this week that the reauthorization bill likely won't make it to the House floor until after the Fourth of July recess. The House Ways and Means Committee, which must address the revenue portion of the bill has not decided how to fund the measure and has scheduled a series of hearings to discuss the issue starting on June 25.
Over 450 highway contractors, suppliers and other interested parties participated in last week's Transportation Construction Coalition's (TCC) Fly-In urging Congress to enact a well funded, multi-year surface transportation authorization bill as quickly as possible. The participants visited hundreds of congressional offices to lobby on the transportation reauthorization, the status of the Highway Trust Fund, passage of the FAA authorization and reauthorization of the waste water and drinking water state revolving funds. Many Íæż½ã½ã members also lobbied against the Employee Free Choice Act (or "card check") and the 3% withholding requirement. Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) addressed the group and reported that he intended to move a reauthorization bill in June with the intent of having a bill passed in the House before the summer recess. T&I Ranking Republican John Mica (R-Fla.) and House Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) also addressed the TCC and pointed out their priorities in the legislation. All three leading decision-makers addressed the reauthorization process and talked about a bill that could top $400 billion, focus on economic growth, congestion reduction and increased safety. The bill will likely also include comprehensive transportation planning and changes designed to speed up project delivery. For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.
The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed H.R. 915, a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding and safety oversight programs for four years with a total authorized spending level of $70 billion. The bill includes a total of $16.2 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the primary source of federal funding for airport capital projects. The bill also increases the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) on airline flights from $4.50 to $7.00, which is estimated to generate $1 billion per year in additional revenue. These fees may be levied by airports to fund airport infrastructure investment. Íæż½ã½ã supported the PFC increase and will work to ensure that the provision is in the final bill.The most recent multi-year authorization of the FAA expired on September 30, 2007. The programs have been operating under a series of short-term extensions since that time. The Senate has not yet acted on reauthorization legislation this year. For more information, contact Brian Deery at deeryb@agc.org.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood invited a group of Íæż½ã½ã contractors this week to meet with him to get a progress report on the impact of stimulus funding for transportation projects. The contractors have been awarded contracts for recovery act funded projects and reported that, as a result, they have been able to retain or hire workers. The contractors pointed out that prior to receiving stimulus funds their state DOTs were cutting back significantly on the number of projects going out to bid. Íæż½ã½ã thanked Secretary LaHood for his leadership in getting transportation funds in the stimulus package but also pointed that major investments by contractors in new equipment and work force training is contingent on having a reliable long term market and urged the Administration to support increased revenue in a multi-year transportation reauthorization bill. The Íæż½ã½ã members were in Washington as part of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In delivering the same message with their Senators and Representatives. In a nationally televised event at the National Press Club Secretary LaHood reported on his meeting with the Íæż½ã½ã contractors. As an example of stimulus success LaHood included in the event Íæż½ã½ã member Jim Andoga (Austin Bridge& Road) and one of his foreman Willie Fort whose job was retained due to the recovery act funds.
Over 450 highway contractors, suppliers and other interested parties participated in this week's Transportation Construction Coalition's (TCC) Fly-In urging Congress to enact a well funded, multi-year surface transportation authorization bill as quickly as possible. The participants visited hundreds of congressional offices to lobby on the transportation reauthorization, the status of the highway trust fund, passage of the FAA authorization and reauthorization of the waste water and drinking water state revolving funds. Many Íæż½ã½ã members also lobbied against the Employee Free Choice Act (or "card check") and the 3% withholding requirement.Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) addressed the group and reported that he intended to move a reauthorization bill in June with the intent of having a bill passed in the House before the summer recess. T&I Ranking Republican John Mica (FL) and House Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WVA) also addressed the TCC and pointed out their priorities in the legislation. All three leading decision makers addressed the reauthorization process and talked about a bill that could top $400 billion, focus on economic growth, congestion reduction and increased safety. The bill will likely also include comprehensive transportation planning and changes designed to speed up project delivery.