Latest updates
Election outcomes take shape one week later
One week after Election Day, we finally have a good idea of what the next two years will look like on Capitol Hill. While long thought that this year’s midterm elections would bring a “red wave” across the country, in the end Democrats were able to hold their ground in several swing states and remain in control of the Senate, while narrowly losing the House of Representatives to Republicans. Even with the Senate race in Georgia headed to a run-off next month, Democrats know they will be in control of the Senate at least until 2024. They currently control 50 votes, plus Vice President Kamala Harris would provide a 51st vote in the event the Senate stays 50-50 as it was prior to the election. One week after Election Day, we finally have a good idea of what the next two years will look like on Capitol Hill. While long thought that this year’s midterm elections would bring a “red wave” across the country, in the end Democrats were able to hold their ground in several swing states and remain in control of the Senate, while narrowly losing the House of Representatives to Republicans. Even with the Senate race in Georgia headed to a run-off next month, Democrats know they will be in control of the Senate at least until 2024. They currently control 50 votes, plus Vice President Kamala Harris would provide a 51st vote in the event the Senate stays 50-50 as it was prior to the election. Winning key Senate races in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada took some of the pressure off the outcome in Georgia. However, a loss by Sen. Raphael Warnock would give Democrats no buffer room in any hotly contested votes in the next Congress. In the House, the margin of victory for Republicans is slightly less certain at the moment. House races across Alaska, California, Colorado and Maine have yet to be decided, leaving both Republicans and Democrats short of the magic number of 218 seats needed in the House to have a majority. However, Republicans currently hold 215 seats, with several outstanding elections looking likely to split in their favor and push them to at least the 218 number they need. A flipped House also means new leadership on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Current Republican Ranking Member Sam Graves of Missouri would most likely become chair of the committee, while Democratic leadership is much more uncertain. Current Democratic Committee Chair Peter DeFazio of Oregon chose retirement over a re-election bid, ensuring there will be a new top Democrat on the committee for the first time since 2015. Less than half of the Republicans who voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act IIJA last year will be returning to Congress in 2023. Only six of the 13 Republican members who voted to support the historic investment in roads, bridges and safety made it to Election Day. However, the remaining six all won. At the state level, one statewide ballot question was approved by voters that will provide funding toward transportation projects. Massachusetts Ballot Question 1 will create an additional income tax of 4% for income over $1 million and will dedicate revenue to education and transportation purposes only. Thirty-six governors races were decided on Nov. 8. Generally, it was a good election year for incumbents, as incumbents won on both sides of the aisle in key races such as Florida, Georgia, Kansas and Michigan. Maryland and Massachusetts had open seats, with popular Republican Governors termed out. Both states will see a Democratic Governor in office for the next four years. In state legislatures, Democrats will take control of several legislative chambers that have been controlled by Republicans for several cycles or more. This includes the Michigan House and Senate, and the Minnesota Senate, with the Pennsylvania House still up in the air. Compiled by ATSSA Federal Government Relations Director Cameron Greene and ATSSA State Government Relations Director Renee Gibson.
FHWA hosts session on Every Day Counts Round 7 Innovations
The Federal Highway Administration FHWA will host an executive-level virtual rollout of the Every Day Counts EDC program round 7 innovations on Dec. 2. These innovations will build upon the already significant legacy of EDC and support FHWA’s efforts to drive innovation around three core priorities: Improving safety for all road users; Building sustainable infrastructure for the future; and Growing an inclusive workforce. EDC is a state-based program that identifies and rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations that make our transportation system adaptable, sustainable, equitable and safer for all. Proven innovations promoted through EDC facilitate greater efficiency at the State, Local and Tribal levels, saving time, money and resources to ensure our infrastructure is built better, faster, and smarter. Register now to attend on Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Executive Session is open to everyone. The Federal Highway Administration FHWA will host an executive-level virtual rollout of the Every Day Counts EDC program round 7 innovations on Dec. 2. These innovations will build upon the already significant legacy of EDC and support FHWA’s efforts to drive innovation around three core priorities: Improving safety for all road users; Building sustainable infrastructure for the future; and Growing an inclusive workforce. EDC is a state-based program that identifies and rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations that make our transportation system adaptable, sustainable, equitable and safer for all. Proven innovations promoted through EDC facilitate greater efficiency at the State, Local and Tribal levels, saving time, money and resources to ensure our infrastructure is built better, faster, and smarter. Register now to attend on Dec. 2nd at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Executive Session is open to everyone. In February 2023, FHWA will also host a virtual summit to bring together the State Transportation Innovation Councils and transportation professionals across the country. The summit will provide a more in-depth discussion of the benefits of each innovation to help state, local, and tribal governments identify those that best fit the needs of their respective State’s transportation programs.
USDOT: No extension of temporary waiver for construction materials for Buy America
The U.S. Department of Transportation USDOT will not extend its current one-year implementation delay of Buy America changes for construction materials stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act IIJA, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law, the department announced. USDOT will begin enforcing the new Buy America requirements for construction materials on Thursday, according to a "notice of expiration" posted online. The notice included several concurrent and related actions USDOT is taking related to implementation. The U.S. Department of Transportation USDOT will not extend its current one-year implementation delay of Buy America changes for construction materials stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act IIJA, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law, the department announced. USDOT will begin enforcing the new Buy America requirements for construction materials on Thursday, according to a "notice of expiration" posted online. There are also several concurrent and related actions USDOT is taking related to implementation as described below. Timelines USDOT proposes two actions to help transition to the new rule: First, for USDOT awards obligated on or after the effective date of the final waiver, USDOT will waive the construction materials requirements for any contracts entered into before Nov. 10. Secondly, USDOT is proposing to waive the construction materials requirements for any contracts entered into before March 10, 2023 that result from solicitations published before May 14, 2022. De minimis costs, small grants, and minor components Additionally, USDOT is proposing a narrow waiver for de minimis costs, small grants and minor components. This waiver would be applicable to projects in which: the total value of the non-compliant products is no more than the lesser of $1 million or 5% of total allowable costs under the federal financial assistance award; the size of the federal financial assistance award is below $500,000; or the non-domestically produced miscellaneous minor components comprise no more than 5% of the total material cost of an otherwise domestically produced iron or steel product. Comments on these proposals must be received to the Federal Register by Nov. 20. ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner last week sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking for a delay in new Buy America regulations. ATSSA will continue to provide additional information related to the Buy America requirements in the coming weeks.
Upcoming Events
2026 Convention & Traffic Expo
Where Roadway Safety + Innovation Intersect. ATSSA’s 56th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo is Feb. 20-24, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Join key roadway safety and transportation professionals at this premier event.
Legislative Briefing & Fly-In 2026
ATSSA’s 2026 Legislative Briefing & Fly-In is April 14-15, in Washington, D.C.
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National Work Zone Awareness Week
Show your support of work zone safety awareness by participating in NWZAW 2026, April 20-24, with ATSSA and host Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).
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