Senate Committee Approves Bipartisan Two-year Transportation Reauthorization Package

By a vote of 18 to 0, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) approved a two-year transportation authorization bill. This is the first step in the long process of passing a reauthorization bill. AGC will continue to work with the House and Senate throughout this process to ensure the bill has the best possible impact on the construction industry. The bipartisan bill (S. 1813), Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century or “MAP 21” was assembled primarily by Sens. Boxer (D-Calif.), Baucus (D-Mont.), Inhofe (R-OK) and Vitter (R-La.). It meets goals laid out by AGC to keep funding at the current levels or higher, streamline the review process, reduce program complexity, cut the number of programs and increase accountability. Details of the bill can be found in the Highway Facts Bulletin from last Friday (11/4). During yesterday’s markup a number of amendments were adopted including: amendments dealing with metropolitan planning, emergency relief, safety, the freight program, reducing regulations, and expanding project eligibilities in the border program. A “manager’s amendment” offered by Sens., Boxer, Inhofe, Baucus, and Vitter was also adopted.  This amendment made mostly technical and non-controversial changes to MAP-21. The Senate measure will also need to be considered by the Banking, Commerce and Finance Committees before the bill makes its way to the Senate floor. The Finance Committee is responsible for providing the revenue to pay for the authorization bill. Several Senators including EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairman Max Baucus  -  also the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee - spoke directly to the need to secure the $12 billion necessary to pay for the legislation. Recognizing the difficulty in securing the $12 billion, AGC and our transportation partners sent letters supporting the markup of MAP-21, and urged the Senate Finance Committee to find the revenue to support the levels proposed in the bill.  Please urge your Senators to support fully funding MAP-21. AGC will continue to work with the EPW Committee and the Finance Committee to ensure that a bipartisan solution is reached that provides our industry with the stability and certainty that comes with a multiyear bill at current funding levels.  AGC is also working with members of the House Transportation Committee and the House Republican Leadership to move a bill in the House. For more information, contact Sean O’Neill at oneills@agc.org or (202)547-8892.