The House Budget Committee completed action on a proposed FY 2013 budget resolution, introduced earlier in the week by Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The proposal would reduce federal transportation funding investment from $88.6 billion in FY 2012 to $57.1 billion in FY 2013, a reduction of $31.5 billion (36 percent).

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) announced that he will introduce a “clean” three-month extension of highway and transit programs that contains no policy changes. The extension will not be taken up until next week. Chairman Mica said that the extension will give House Republicans time to work on completing a five-year version of reauthorization. H.R. 7, as reported from House committees.  Current program authorization expires on March 31, 2012. In addition to spending, authorization to collect the federal motor fuels tax expires at the same time. The proposed extension would run until June 30.

Today, the Road Information Program (TRIP) released a report discussing road and bridge conditions in Hawaii.  The report highlights the additional costs a typical driver incurs, from wasted fuel, time lost in congestion and additional maintenance and repairs because of poor road and bridge conditions. Joining TRIP at the press conference was  John Romanowski, president of AGC’s General Contractors Association of Hawaii chapter and vice president of Jas. W. Glover Ltd. who reported on the latest construction job numbers, showing that the Honolulu area lost another 600 construction jobs - a 3 percent decline - between January 2011 and January 2012.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed their AGC supported, 2- year, $109 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill, S. 1813 the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) by a strong bipartisan vote of 74-22.  Funding levels and key provisions of MAP-21 can be found here.

Last night, the Senate finally reached a unanimous consent agreement that limits the number of amendments that can be offered to the S. 1813, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21), its two-year $109 billion authorization. The Senate has now started the process of debating and voting on approximately 30 amendments to MAP-21; many of the amendments are not germane to the bill.

This week, the Senate began debate on MAP-21, the two-year $109 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill. Following that vote Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-NV) offered an amendment that is a complete substitute for the entire bill.  This substitute contains the titles of the bill from the Environment & Public Works, Finance, Banking and Commerce committees that had been previously agreed to as well as 37 amendments that have been agreed on by both parties.

AGC annually participates in the National Work Zone Awareness Week to highlight the dangers to construction workers and motorists from not obeying speed limits and not being alert in highway construction work zones. This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is scheduled for April 22-28, 2012, with the theme “Don’t Barrel Through Work Zones.” AGC will also participate in a National event in St. Louis, Missouri on April 23, 2012. In addition, many AGC chapters schedule their own Work Zone Awareness events independently or in cooperation with their state DOTs.

Yesterday the Senate began debate on MAP-21, the two-year $109 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill. Prior to last week’s Congressional recess, consideration of the bill was held up by a long list of amendments and with several amendments that were unrelated to transportation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) have reached an agreement to limit the number of non-transportation amendments and then to proceed with amendments dealing with the substance of MAP-21.

On Feb. 14, American Trucking Associations (ATA) filed a petition with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia asking the court to review the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) final hours-of-service rule. ATA pointed out in its lawsuit that the rules that have been in place since 2004 have contributed to unprecedented improvement in highway safety. The lawsuit challenges the steps FMCSA took in changing the rules that do not meet the required legal standards.

The Senate will vote to begin debate on a bipartisan transportation reauthorization bill next week.    It is anticipated that Republicans and Democrats will come to an agreement on what amendments will be voted on when the Senate resumes consideration of the transportation bill, hopefully clearing the path to final passage.