The Democratic National Convention kicks off today and our Government Relations Team is on the move, making contact with members of Congress in support of ATSSA’s interests in roadway safety.

While he won’t be able to be there in person,  Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith will be taking part in virtual conversations with political leaders about key ATSSA issues including cybersecurity and technology, energy and the environment, and the role of the private sector in economic recovery.

Smith also plans outreach during next week's Republican National Convention.

The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2, known as the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan covering not only traditional transportation, but also schools, housing, drinking water, broadband, and clean energy.

The legislation, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.), included the language from the $494 billion Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act, known as the INVEST in America Act. The bill passed along a party-line vote of 0-0, with Republicans opposing how the bill was crafted and the inclusion of provisions focused on environmental protections.

The Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act is headed for a full vote in the House of Representatives prior to July 4, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who said voting could begin as early as June 30.

After a markup process that lasted a little more than 24 hours, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted to pass the INVEST in America Act late Thursday night. The committee voted along party lines, 35-25, to pass the five-year surface transportation reauthorization through the committee. The markup saw the consideration of 177 amendments over a two-day span that, at times, became heated as Republicans made it clear they believed they were shut out in drafting the $494 billion package.

The recording is now available from Tuesday's ATSSA Town Hall on the New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST in America Act), which was introduced this month by Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chair Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Rep. Dan (D-Ill.) Lipinski, who chairs the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.

You can hear all of  the details from the conversation between Lipinski, a Democrat representing Illinois' 3rd Congrressoinal District, and ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith.

We just concluded our virtual Town Hall with Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith discussing highway funding and the INVEST in America Act.

He called the bill a "robust funding commitment" and said he's  "much more optimistic" than he was 24 hours ago about getting passage of a highway bill this year.

Today, the Democratic leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released proposed legislation to reauthorize the federal transportation program through Fiscal Year 2025. The bill, Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST in America Act), was introduced by Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chair Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chair Dan Lipinski (D-IL).

The proposal authorizes federal transportation funding for five years, at a total of $494 billion, $319 billion of which will be for highway investments.

It’s not too late to catch ATSSA’s first virtual Town Hall on the state and federal response to COVID-19 and potential infrastructure investments. A recording is now available of Tuesday’s one-hour session featuring Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon. 

The virtual Town Hall is a new feature for members. The next topic is "Innovations in Online Training to Keep Your Employees Engaged" and will be held Aprtil 28 at 2 p.m.

Registration is now open for ATSSA's debut virtual Town Hall to be held this Tuesday. ATSSA’s new President & CEO Stacy Tetschner and ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith will be joined by AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., who serves on the Ways and Means Committee.

The conversation will focus on the state and federal response to COVID-19 and potential infrastructure investments. 

ATSSA was encouraged by this week’s call from House Democratic leaders for another COVID-19 package that includes infrastructure funding.

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a list of priorities the Democratic Caucus is targeting in a fourth COVID-19 economic package, which includes attention to transportation projects and mobility.

The Moving Forward plan calls for recovery by investing in “smarter, safer infrastructure that is made to last” and that would produce “millions of good-paying jobs.”