Published in Last Word
The Senate will vote in the coming days on a House-passed bill to transfer $10.8 billion into the Highway Trust Fund and extend MAP-21 highway and transit funding through May 2015.
ACEC supports the passage of a short-term patch but is working with Congress to craft a long-term funding solution. “The U.S. economy requires a surface transportation infrastructure network that can keep pace with growing demands,” said ACEC President Dave Raymond. “A long-term federal commitment to prioritize and invest in our aging infrastructure and safety needs is essential to achieve this goal.”
Four amendments will be offered to the Senate bill, including a modification to the budget offsets and a shortening of the extension to December to force action on a long-term bill in a post-election session rather than postpone consideration to next year.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) will offer an amendment to phase down the federal gas tax and turn over transportation funding responsibility to the states. ACEC opposes this amendment and other so-called “devolution” proposals that would weaken federal infrastructure investment.
#Transportation