ATSSA Blog

House Transportation Committee Democrats unveil surface transportation authorization proposal

Pam 0 6660 Article rating: 5.0

Democratic leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Friday released their five-year, $547 billion surface transportation reauthorization proposal, named the INVEST in America Act (identical to the name of their package last year, which failed to become law). This package includes funding titles for highways – including roadway safety infrastructure, bridges, transit and passenger and freight rail.

The legislation was unveiled without Republican support; Republicans had released their own version, dubbed the STARTER 2.0 Act, in May.

House Republicans release transportation reauthorization proposal

Pam 0 6498 Article rating: No rating

Republican members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-Mo.), today released their version of a transportation reauthorization ahead of likely Committee action in early June. The language, which is narrower in scope than the House-passed transportation bill last year, would spend $400 billion over five years on federal-aid highway projects, an increase of 32% over current funding levels.

Dubbed the Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology & Efficient Review Act 2.0 (STARTER Act 2.0), the legislation includes increases to the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).

Senate passes one-year extension of federal highway bill

Measure included in action to prevent government shutdown

Pam 0 8667 Article rating: No rating

The Senate this evening approved a one-year extension of the federal highway bill, which would have expired at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The extension was included in a continuing resolution (CR) passed by both chambers to avert a government shutdown. The stopgap bill pushes the deadline to pass the yearly spending budgets for the federal government to Dec. 11.

The Senate approved the action by an 84-10 vote.

Highway bill extension included in House continuing resolution today

One-year extension part of House of Representatives proposal to avoid shutdown

Pam 0 7367 Article rating: No rating

Democrats in the House of Representatives today proposed a Continuing Resolution that includes a one-year extension of the current federal highway bill.

The resolution is aimed at avoiding a federal government shutdown but included the highway bill, which is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30. The federal government shutdown could come in nine days without action. The proposal would fund the government through Dec. 11.

If approved, the resolution would ensure that current transportation programs would not lapse on their expiration date of Oct. 1.

Day 2 of Legislative Briefing & Virtual Fly-In packed with activity

Dozens of meetings held with elected officials and legislative staff

Pam 0 7189 Article rating: No rating

ATSSA’s annual Legislative Briefing & Fly-In wrapped up its first virtual event on Wednesday with a day full of meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill and their respective staffs.

Meetings ran from morning to evening as ATSSA members from across the country had the opportunity to deliver firsthand their priorities for the roadway safety infrastructure industry.

ATSSA’s Government Relations Team set up 54 meetings with legislative offices representing districts in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

House of Representatives expected to vote by July 4 on surface transportation bill

House spent more than 24 hours on markup of INVEST in America Act

Pam 0 8012 Article rating: No rating

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.

Recording now available of Tuesday's Town Hall with Rep. Lipinski discussing details of a highway funding bill

Pam 0 7146 Article rating: No rating

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.

Rep. Lipinski expresses optimism about infrastructure funding during ATSSA Town Hall today

Pam 0 5905 Article rating: No rating

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.

ATSSA holding virtual Town Hall Tuesday to discuss highway funding bill with Rep. Lipinski

Pam 0 7435 Article rating: No rating

ATSSA will host a live, virtual Town Hall on Tuesday on the highway bill recently proposed by House Democrats known as the INVEST in America Act.

Tuesday’s Town Hall will feature Rep. Dan Lipinski, a Democrat representing Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District, and ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nathan Smith.