The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill after a marathon 15-hour legislative markup session that began on May 21 and ended in the early morning of May 22. The committee adopted the bill by a vote of 62-2 with three members not voting. Existing highway and transit authorizations are set to expire Sept. 30.
Highway contractors, dealers, manufacturers, insurers and all channels of the infrastructure industry will converge on Capitol Hill next week to remind Congress of the significant needs to insure safe and efficient transportation systems.
The key talking points being used are:
• The Highway Trust Fund is still under construction and needs congressional support.
• Airports need a significant investment to keep up with the growing demand and increased technology.
• Regulatory obstacles remain and are costly and nonproductive.
• Congress should keep to its five-year commitment made in the $1.2 trillion infrastructure investment act.