The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released details of reauthorization legislation, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009. The legislation is a 6-year $500 billion committee draft that would replace the current authorization, SAFETEA-LU, which is due to expire on September 30, but does not identify a method for funding.The Chairman of the Committee, James Oberstar (D-Minn.), introduced the full authorization legislation Monday and billed it as a transformation in the way the federal government funds the nation's transportation infrastructure.  Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has called for an 18-month extension of SAFETEA-LU.Preliminary documents were released last week and the committee released a draft version of the bill on Monday.  A blueprint for investment and reform, a framework of principles for federal surface transportation and an executive summary, as well as the current bill draft, are all available on the AGC Web site.The committee draft of the legislation indicates a reduced number of federal programs but keeps most of the eligibility for them.  It does not address any specifics on formula funding. The blueprint states that there would be project streamlining, but new environmental concerns exist, such as carbon reduction and livability. Finally, the plan would centralize national planning to include all transportation modes. AGC staff is currently reviewing the bill language to determine its impact on construction.The subcommittee is planning a markup of the legislation Wednesday, June, 24, and full committee may markup the bill in July. The Ways and Means Committee will hold a series of hearings in the next five weeks to consider funding options.For more information, contact Jeff Shoaf at (202) 547-3350 or shoafj@agc.org.

Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Republican Jim Inhofe (R-OK) indicated today their support for an 18 month extension of authorization for the federal highway and transit programs which expire on September 30, 2009. The EPW Committee leaders made their comments to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood during a committee hearing on the status of stimulus funded transportation projects. Sec. LaHood last week made a surprise announcement that the Administration favors passing a short term extension of authority for the transportation programs and using that legislation to provide additional revenue for the Highway Trust Fund to ensure that sufficient revenue is available for states to pay for on-going highway and transit construction projects. Senators Boxer and Inhofe both indicated, however, that they would not support the Administration additional recommendation to include some of its policy objectives in the short term extension.At a hearing in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the same time the bipartisan leadership of the committee said they do not favor the short term extension and will continue to work to enact a six year authorization. The committee leaders indicted that a short term extension would undermine the effort to create jobs and promote long term economic growth that has resulted from the stimulus funding. The committee leadership met separately with AGC and the transportation community requesting our support of the long term extension.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on Wednesday reported out the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 a six-year reauthorization of the federal highway and transit programs to replace SAFETEA-LU which expires on September 30, 2009. While there were as many as 30 proposed amendments pending, and several were discussed, the Committee's bipartisan leadership supported a strategy to not vote on amendments, making the bill available for further discussion with the intent of having the full T&I Committee mark up the bill in July.The legislation calls for investment of nearly $450 billion, $337.4 billion for federal highways (a $110 billion increase) and $99.8 billion to transit (a $47.3 billion increase). This 77-23 percent split between highway and transit funding alters the traditional 80-20 proportions. The measure would also provide $50 billion for high-speed passenger rail initiatives to be funded outside the Highway Trust Fund. Details on funding levels for various programs and how the funds are to be distributed are not included in the proposal. Also not included in the legislation is how to provide the needed revenue. Jurisdiction for addressing the revenue side of the equation falls with the House Ways and Means Committee which will be holding a series of hearings over the next several weeks. The legislation also consolidates and eliminates a number of existing programs and creates several new initiatives.

As part of the Transportation Construction Coalition, AGC and other coalition members have launched a new advertising campaign in Capitol Hill-targeted publications (including today's Roll Call) to push for immediate passage of a six-year surface transportation investment bill.

AGC's Brian Deery, Senior Director, Highway and Transportation Division, discussed the need for a revenue increase in the highway reauthorization legislation to address the nation's transportation woes in a video address.The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials created TransportationTV to communicate with the public about transportation issues. This week AASHTO initiated a new segment to its broadcast called "Voices of Transportation",  which features interviews with transportation industry experts. The first interview in this new segment is with AGC's Brian Deery.  Watch on the web at: www.transportationtv.org.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-Minn.) hopes to have a transportation reauthorization bill passed before the House recesses for the summer may not be fulfilled. A markup of the legislation tentatively scheduled by the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit for June 17 has been postponed. The "Big Four" (Committee and Subcommittee Chairs and ranking members) met this week to discuss the proposed legislation and did not agree on a set of principles for inclusion in the bill. Before moving to markup, the four plan to meet again to agree on the principles. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said last week that the reauthorization bill likely won't make it to the House floor until after the Fourth of July recess. The House Ways and Means Committee, which must address the revenue portion of the bill, has not decided how to fund the measure and has scheduled a series of hearings to discuss the issue starting on June 25.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) briefed members of the relevant House and Senate Committees about the revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that could cause a slowdown in payments to states as early as mid-July. The Obama Administration has indicated that an infusion of $5 billion to $7 billion will be necessary soon in order to fully fund existing commitments through September 30, 2009, or the end of fiscal year 2009.At a hearing last week on the nomination of Victor Mendez for Highway Administrator, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) reported that in addition to the funds needed for FY 2009 an additional $8 billion to $10 billion will be necessary to get through FY 2010. The President's budget indicated that as much as $36 billion could be needed in FY 2010 to prevent a shortfall in funding.At a hearing last week before the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood indicated that the Administration will be working with Congress to ensure that this cash flow problem does not result in a slowdown in payments to states to reimburse ongoing highway construction.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been briefing members of the relevant House and Senate Committees about the revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that could cause a slowdown in payments to states as early as mid-July. The Obama Administration has indicated that an infusion of $5 billion to $7 billion will be necessary soon in order to fully fund existing commitments through September 30, 2009, or the end of fiscal year 2009.At a hearing this week on the nomination of Victor Mendez for Highway Administrator, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) reported that in addition to the funds needed for FY 2009 an additional $8 billion to $10 billion will be necessary to get through FY 2010. The President's budget indicated that as much as $36 billion could be needed in FY 2010 to prevent a shortfall in funding.At a hearing today before the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood indicated that the Administration will be working with Congress to ensure that this cash flow problem does not result in a slowdown in payments to states to reimburse ongoing highway construction.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-Minn.) hopes to have a transportation reauthorization bill passed before the House recesses for the summer may not be fulfilled. A markup of the legislation tentatively scheduled by the T&I Subcommittee on Highways and Transit for June 17 has been postponed. The "Big Four" (Committee and Subcommittee Chairs and ranking members) met this week to discuss the proposed legislation and did not agree on a set of principles for inclusion in the bill. Before moving to markup the four plan to meet again to agree on the principles. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-M.) said this week that the reauthorization bill likely won't make it to the House floor until after the Fourth of July recess. The House Ways and Means Committee, which must address the revenue portion of the bill has not decided how to fund the measure and has scheduled a series of hearings to discuss the issue starting on June 25.

Over 450 highway contractors, suppliers and other interested parties participated in last week's Transportation Construction Coalition's (TCC) Fly-In urging Congress to enact a well funded, multi-year surface transportation authorization bill as quickly as possible.  The participants visited hundreds of congressional offices to lobby on the transportation reauthorization, the status of the Highway Trust Fund, passage of the FAA authorization and reauthorization of the waste water and drinking water state revolving funds. Many AGC members also lobbied against the Employee Free Choice Act (or "card check") and the 3% withholding requirement. Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) addressed the group and reported that he intended to move a reauthorization bill in June with the intent of having a bill passed in the House before the summer recess. T&I Ranking Republican John Mica (R-Fla.) and House Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) also addressed the TCC and pointed out their priorities in the legislation. All three leading decision-makers addressed the reauthorization process and talked about a bill that could top $400 billion, focus on economic growth, congestion reduction and increased safety. The bill will likely also include comprehensive transportation planning and changes designed to speed up project delivery. For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.