AGC Urges the House to Vote “YES” on H.R. 3074, FY 08 Transportation Funding (AGC Key Vote Letter)

Novemeber 14, 2007

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), I am writing to urge you to vote “yes” on H.R. 3074, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2008.  The bill provides much needed investment to address the nation’s congested and aging transportation network, as well as to improve the safety of our most at-risk bridges.

H.R. 3074 would provide $40.2 billion for the federal-aid highway program, the exact amount required by SAFETEA-LU for FY 2008, and $9.65 billion for the transit program, a $640 million increase over FY 2007 but slightly less than the level called for in SAFETEA-LU.  The bill also includes an extra $1 billion to repair structurally deficient bridges in response to the Minneapolis bridge collapse in August.  Finally, the bill provides $3.5 billion for airport capital improvements, the same amount as last year.

A vote against H.R. 3074 is a vote against transportation investment.  H.R. 3074’s transportation investment levels are consistent with the commitments Congress made in SAFETEA-LU, and those commitments should be maintained.  Moreover, the highway and transit investment levels called for in the bill, including the additional bridge funding, are financed by user fees and will not impact the deficit.

AGC urges you to vote “yes” in favor of H.R. 3074.  As transportation funding is a top priority for our members, AGC will consider using this “Key Vote” in our legislative scorecard.

Sincerely, 

Jeffrey D. Shoaf
Senior Executive Director
Government and Public Affairs