THE LATEST: At the expense of YOUR highway and bridge projects and construction jobs, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is moving to force states to spend their federal-aid highway funds, meant for road and bridge construction, to pay for buses, Amtrak trains, and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
Tell the White House and Congress we need to fix roads and bridges and stop trying to fund non-construction initiatives with highway construction funding.
WHAT TO DO: It takes less than 45 seconds to send the prewritten message telling the White House and Congress to oppose FHWA’s effort to divert road funding! You can also add your own personal comments about why your state needs these funds to repair roads and bridges.
WHY IT MATTERS: A pending FHWA greenhouse gas performance measure rule is a one-size-fits-all mandate limiting a state’s ability to choose or invest in transportation construction projects that fit its unique needs.
This proposed rule would require states to reduce transportation emissions. If states don’t, then they would be forced to put road and bridge projects on hold and fund initiatives to achieve emissions reductions – like adding more buses, train cars, and EV charging stations.
THE DETAILS: On July 7, 2022, the FHWA announced a proposed rule to establish a greenhouse gas performance measure. In extensive comments, AGC explained to FHWA the many problems with this proposed rule. The FHWA could finalize this rule at any time.
AGC has also been active in supporting congressional efforts to block this rulemaking. An AGC-backed provision in the House of Representatives’ FY 2024 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill would block its implementation.
In the Senate, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) have an AGC-backed amendment to its FY 2024 THUD appropriations bill to block this rule that could be voted on imminently.
If the House THUD bill passes and the Senate amendment is added to its THUD appropriations bill, the provisions blocking the rule’s implementation would be incredibly difficult to remove before sending a conferenced bill to the president’s desk for signature into law.
Click HERE to fill out some basic information and send an email to President Biden and Congress.