Federal Highway/Transit Program Reauthorization In Jeopardy
Your Help Needed to Prevent Unnecessary Delay
The Obama Administration and some members of the U.S. Senate are pushing to extend the current authorization of the federal highway and public transportation programs until March 2011. The Administration claims an 18-month delay is necessary to preserve the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, which is facing a revenue shortfall that will result in slowed payments to contractors as soon as August and as much as a 35 percent reduction in federal-aid highway funds to your state beginning October 1 of this year.
Background
Several House committees showed last week action on a multi-year reauthorization bill is possible this year. The House Highways & Transit Subcommittee approved a comprehensive surface transportation bill and this measure is scheduled for action by the full Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in July. The House Ways & Means Committee began hearings on financing a multi-year bill and will continue these efforts in July.
Members of Congress will be at home for the July 4 congressional recess and need to hear from you about the importance of timely action on a highway and public transportation program reauthorization bill. Specifically, elected officials need to understand a multi-year reauthorization is necessary to prevent the budget difficulties most states are experiencing from stalling transportation programs across the nation and potentially undercutting the benefits of the economic recovery act’s transportation investments.
You can reach members of Congress and staff at their state and district offices all week or call the ARTBA toll-free hotline at 1-888-448-2782 to deliver these messages to their Washington, D.C. offices.
Call for Action
Please ask your representative and senators to:
- Complete action on a multi-year reauthorization bill as soon as possible;
- Urge members of the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance Committees to make generating sufficient revenue for a $450 billion reauthorization bill a priority;
- Tell the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate action on a reauthorization bill this year is critical to promoting economic recovery and job creation; and
- Preserve the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund immediately.
