Published in Last Word
Congressional committee leaders continue to work to avoid the impending shortfall of the Highway Trust Fund in late July, but specific details have not yet come together.
Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has informed the heads of the State DOTs that, if Congress fails to shore up the Trust Fund, beginning on August 1, states will only receive rationed project payments every two weeks rather than full daily reimbursement.
The Senate Finance Committee postponed action last week on a draft bill to supplement the Highway Trust Fund with $8.4 billion, which would extend MAP-21 funding for highways and transit programs through the end of the year. Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) made several changes to an initial draft and then agreed to continue working with Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and House Ways & Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) to find bi-partisan, bi-cameral agreement. The Finance Committee meeting will resume during the week of July 7 after the Independence Day recess.
In order to maintain pressure for action in Congress, ACEC urges all Members to write to their Representatives to emphasize the need for a short-term patch and a long-term transportation funding solution.
Click here to access a sample email letter. ACEC encourages members to personalize the letter with firm-specific information.
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