AGC Briefs House Staff on Transportation Reauthorization

With Congress on a two-week break, AGC and other transportation stakeholders took the opportunity to brief congressional staff on the importance of passing a surface transportation reauthorization bill.  The briefing, which was sponsored by the AGC-led Transportation Construction Coalition and the Americans for Transportation Mobility, provided nearly 60 staff members the basics of why a multi-year bill is critical to the health of our construction industry and our economy as a whole. AGC chief economist Ken Simonson provided the group with data showing economic indicators showing historically low costs for highway construction.  Simonson stressed that Congress should act now on a multi-year bill to take advantage of the current construction market conditions. In addition, AGC detailed to the group the impact of federal infrastructure investment on jobs and our economy. The group was also updated on the current state of the Highway Trust Fund and the need to provide additional revenue in order to meet our current surface transportation needs. As AGC works with the House and Senate committees as they craft the next authorization bill, we will continue to educate all Members of Congress on the need to act expeditiously on a multi-year surface transportation bill. For more information, contact Sean O’Neill at (202) 547-8892 or oneills@agc.org.