Despite a great deal of talk about Congress taking up economic stimulus legislation in a lame duck session, it still remains uncertain whether or not this will happen. The Senate is scheduled to be in session next week. In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has expressed the desire to go back into session to address stimulus legislation but she has not yet officially called the House back into session.In a press conference this week, President-Elect Obama urged Congress to pass stimulus legislation as soon as possible. However, President Bush has expressed skepticism about the benefit from this legislation.
AGC continues to advocate for the inclusion of infrastructure funding as part of the economic stimulus package. Prior to adjournment the House passed a stimulus bill which included $34 billion in infrastructure funding, including: $12.8 billion for the federal-aid highway program; $3.6 billion for transit; $600 million for airport capital improvement projects; $7.5 billion for water infrastructure; $5 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; $3 billion for public school reconstruction; $500 million for Amtrak; and $1 billion for public housing construction. A Senate bill that included $25 billion in infrastructure spending was blocked from passage on a procedural motion.
The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), met October 29 for a hearing on economic recovery, job creation, and investment in America. Two panels testified before the committee with representatives from state and local governments, think tanks, and industry. To view the testimony AGC submitted for the hearing click here.
Your Senators and Representatives need to hear from you this week. Please go to AGC’s Legislative Action Center and send a message to your elected officials.
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