Yesterday, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee held their second hearing as they look to complete a highway bill prior to the expiration of the current extension on May 31.
Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) heard from a panel that included Utah and California transportation officials, as well as representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers and the United States Chamber of Commerce, all of whom stressed the importance of a well-funded multi-year highway bill on the business community.
Chairman Inhofe used the hearing as an opportunity to denounce the notion of “devolution” by asking the witnesses if “devolution” would harm their states and their businesses; they all agreed that it would. Many conservatives in Congress have used the debate over how to fund the Highway Trust Fund as an opportunity to push “devolution”, which would cut federal funding, and force states to raise their own transportation taxes to make up for a reduced federal program.
Inhofe also reiterated his intention of moving a bill prior to the May 31 deadline, while recognizing the challenges of finding the revenue necessary to fund a multi-year bill.
AGC will continue to urge House and Senate leadership to take action on a long-term bill in the coming weeks.
For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at oneills@agc.org or (202) 547-8892.