Category: Legislative Updates

State DOTs Offer Federal Funding Solutions

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by LICA-National
State highway officials shared their views this week with a Senate committee reviewing funding options for long term highway and bridge investment.  State officials noted that there has been no increase in the federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993. Alongside improvements over the last few decades in fuel efficiency, increased use of alternative fuel vehicles, the loss of fuel tax purchasing power, and the ever-growing costs of maintaining the nation’s transportation network, “there is recognition that our current funding model is not sustainable” to keep pace with long-term system needs.

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Roadbuilders Optimistic As Massive Infrastructure Bill Debate Begins

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by LICA-National
The American Jobs Plan was released March 31 by the White House and unsurprisingly drew mixed reactions from congressional leaders. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the plan “a visionary, once-in-a-century investment in the American people” and vowed to get a bill through the House of Representatives by July 4. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) cast doubt on Republican support, stating “my view of infrastructure is we ought to build that which we can afford, and not either whack the economy with major tax increases or run up the national debt even more.” Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who will play a critical role in any infrastructure package discussions, had a different take. “Infrastructure, my God, when you think about it, that pothole doesn’t have an R or D name on it, it’ll blow your tire and ruin your car, it doesn’t care,” Manchin said. “So, don’t you think infrastructure is something that could bring us together?”

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LICA Joins Industry Call for Funding NRCS Technical Assistance

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by LICA-National


LICA has joined dozens of others in asking Congress for robust technical assistance funding at NRCS. Once again, we will be sending an appropriations letter to Congress requesting no cuts to farm bill conservation spending and funding for the Conservation Operations (CO) / Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) accounts at NRCS. Taken together, CO and the farm bill programs comprise nearly all of NRCS’s annual budget. This funding is critical to getting conservation on the ground and meeting many of our conservation goals, including on climate change. When finalized, the letter will be available at www.lica.org. Groups already signed on include:



• American Farmland Trust

• National Association of Conservation Districts

• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

• National Wildlife Federation

• National Young Farmers Coalition

• Natural Resources Defense Council