As AGC members deployed on Capitol Hill this week to urge their members of Congress to enact a timely multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-Okla.), along with Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member David Vitter (R-La.), issued a statement (link to attachment) on Wednesday saying that that have made “great progress” in moving a surface transportation reauthorization bill.
The “highlights” of the bill were very short on detail, but the statement noted that the Senate EPW bill will fund programs at current levels, eliminate earmarks, reform the program, strengthen the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program, and expedite project delivery. Senator Boxer then held a press conference where she provided a few more details. Specifically, she put a dollar figure for a six year bill as $339.2 billion but left the door open to a shorter bill at lower funding levels. During visits with their Senators, several AGC members were told the Senate is seriously considering a two-year bill. Boxer had intended to markup a bill by Memorial Day. It is speculated that the timing of this update was done in lieu of marking up a bill. Boxer is now saying she intends to move the legislation out of the EPW Committee by the July 4 Senate recess.
On the House side, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) addressed AGC members at the Transportation Construction Coalition Fly-in and reiterated his goal of moving a six-year authorization bill that will be written to reflect the revenue coming into the Highway Trust Fund. Mica would like to introduce his bill in June and have it considered on the House floor in July. It is estimated Mica’s bill could lead to an up to 30 percent cut in the federal-aid highway program.
In order to try to address this funding gap, the Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act was recently introduced by Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Pa.). The bill dedicates 20 percent of the revenues from Outer Continental Shelf offshore exploration leases and royalties into the highway trust fund (as well as clean and drinking water SRFs and Army Corps projects). The bill - although very well-intended - has a steep climb before it can be considered as a viable way to fund our surface transportation programs.
AGC will continue to work with the House and Senate Committees in moving a reauthorization bill that at the minimum maintains current funding levels. For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at (202) 547-8892 or oneills@agc.org