Senate Moves Slowly on Transportation Bill While House Works on Reconfiguration

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. Committee staff negotiated a series of transportation amendments that were non-controversial and will be adopted as a package. There still remains a long list of other amendments addressing issues such as funding levels for transit, devolution of the federal program to states and others. A key issue still under discussion is how to provide the revenue necessary to fund the bill that would maintain current funding levels through September 2013. While the Senate Finance Committee previously approved a package of revenue enhancers, not all were acceptable and therefore are still being discussed. It is anticipated that debate on the bill will continue into next week. AGC is reviewing the long list of amendments to ensure that none are adopted that would have a negative impact on the construction industry. In the House, Republican leadership has been developing principles for a bill that will garner the support of enough Republicans to get it passed. No Democrats are currently supporting the bill as reported out of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee. While the discussions continue to proceed, the principles that are most likely to be included are as follows: the authorization period will last until September 30, 2013; funding will be maintained at current levels; transit will continue to be funded with revenue from the gas tax; expanded domestic energy development will be permitted with revenue from energy exploration leases dedicated to the Highway Trust Fund; program policy reforms; federal pension reform will provide the necessary offset to fund the legislation. Once the principles are agreed to, the T&I Committee staff will redraft the legislation. The redrafted bill will then be brought directly to the House floor for consideration. Both Chambers have expressed a desire to have the reauthorization legislation completed before the current authorization extension expires on March 31. AGC will continue to press for the longest-term reauthorization bill that at least maintains current funding levels. Thank you to all AGC members who have sent over 3000 emails to their Senators and Representatives about this legislation. As this process inches forward it is important to stay in contact with your Congressional delegation. For more information, please contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.