Transportation Funding Reduced in Continuing Resolution – Action Requested

Because congress was unable to pass the appropriations bills necessary to fund government programs in FY 2013, a six month Continuing Resolution (CR) was enacted at the end of last year. The current CR funded most federal government operations for the first six months of FY 2013 at similar levels to those provided in FY 2012. With the CR expiring on March 27, 2013, House Republicans are in the process of finalizing a CR that will keep the government funded through the end of the Fiscal Year on Sept. 30, 2013.  The bill currently being drafted by House Republicans would effectively cap spending at around $974 billion compared to the $1.043 trillion cap in the current CR.  This reduction is due to the sequestration cuts that started on March 1. The House may take up the legislation as early as next week. Because the CR funding was based on FY 2012 levels, highway and transit programs did not receive the funding increase that was included in the MAP-21 authorization legislation passed last year. AGC and the AGC Co-Chaired Transportation Construction Coalition sent letters to the House and Senate expressing concern about this limit on transportation funding. The CR does not provide highway and transit funding at the levels contained in MAP-21.  AGC members are encouraged to contacted their legislators requesting full funding for MAP-21. For more information and to contact your members of congress visit AGC’s Legislation Action Center.