AGC sent a letter this week to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) in support of the infrastructure investment provisions contained in the Chairman’s second stimulus supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008. In particular, AGC expressed support for the Chairman’s proposal to address the impending Highway Trust Fund deficit by transferring $8 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund. The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a stand-alone piece of legislation to accomplish the transfer in July.
In addition to the Highway Trust Fund fix, the second stimulus supplemental appropriations package proposes the following infrastructure investments above current levels of funding:
• $3.57 billion for highway investments, for states to improve deficient roads and bridges
• $892.5 million for transit capital and operating needs
• $200 million for capital improvements at airports
• $400 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program
• $200 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support $500 million in loans and grants for rural water infrastructure
• $850 million for public school repair and renovation
• $200 million for construction and repair work of land border points of entry facilities
• $10.1 billion for natural disaster recovery in response to flooding in the Midwest, Hurricane Katrina, and western firefighting
The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to schedule consideration of the proposal.
For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.