Highway Spending Bill and Construction Jobs
It’s no secret that our nation is in need of new and better highways. But with current construction costs exceeding the limits set by the Highway Trust Fund, there are concerns about just how much our federal highway spending can afford to build. What is Congress doing?
Congress has passed a highway spending bill, Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Act and Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), which allocates $50 billion over three years to fund transportation projects throughout the country. These new funds will allow us to once again start building the new highways, bridges and railroads that our economy needs. In addition, MAP-21 reauthorizes the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which provides funding for highway infrastructure projects throughout the country. This bill also includes provisions that will safeguard and support state and local highway and transit spending at no additional cost to taxpayers.
As part of MAP-21, Congress doubled the amount of $35 billion authorized by TIGER to fund rebuilding efforts in states that were hard hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. This additional funding will be used to rebuild bridges, roads and other infrastructure damaged by the storms.
The legislation also includes $8 billion for the HTF over three years through a series of offsets. The funds will come from a variety of sources including reduced funding in the Community Development Block Grants program and a reduction in the Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Program. These offsets are equal in amount to those included in President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal. They have been carefully chosen to minimize any negative impact on state and local governments by ensuring federal dollars continue to support local priorities.
Why is this bill important?
This bill invests in America’s infrastructure. By rebuilding our highways and transit systems, we will be able to get people, goods and services to market faster, which will drive jobs, grow the economy and increase take-home pay. By supporting state and local governments in the process of rebuilding their transportation networks, we can ensure these projects continue moving forward while reducing the federal deficit.
To put it simply: If we don’t rebuild roads and bridges now—when they are needed most—we won’t have them to rebuild later when they are needed again. We need a long-term strategy for investing in our nation's infrastructure.
Who supports this bill?
America’s construction industry and transportation professionals, including the American Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA), the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC-NY) and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), agree that investments in our transportation network are essential to build stronger economies and improve quality of life. These groups understand that this legislation will help to support – rather than restrict – state and local governments. They also know that there must be accountability for results. That's why we applaud Congress for including accountability measures in this legislation. These measures will ensure that federal transportation funds are spent responsibly and efficiently.
What’s next?
MAP-21 is now law as of June 29, 2012. The provisions in the bill are designed to go into effect once it’s signed by the President. Once President Obama signs the bill, we will determine how to implement those new provisions and begin preparing for their implementation. In the meantime, we will continue to develop our new construction program offerings, like our Recovery Act Rebates for Asphalt Pavement, that help get construction projects up and running quickly. We will also continue to work with Congress on investing more in infrastructure during this congressional session as they focus on reducing the deficit while supporting job creation and economic growth.
There is broad, bipartisan agreement that the nation’s transportation infrastructure must be rebuilt. The members of Congress who passed this bill are to be commended for their efforts to support America’s transportation professionals and rebuild the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
We have a lot of work ahead of us if we are going to meet the needs of our communities and get construction projects up and running quickly. But with MAP-21 it is clear that Congress recognizes the urgency of these necessary investments in America's roads, bridges and transit systems. That is why we have confidence that we will soon be rebuilding America’s transportation infrastructure in a way that benefits the economy and supports America's construction industry.
About the Author:
Greg Walter , Director
Strategic Public Affairs, Inc.
(561) 313-5818 ext. 2251 (office) / 610-795-1433 (mobile) / waltg@strategicpa.com, gwalter@strategicpa.com
The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) is a not-for-profit trade association that advocates the progress of asphalt pavements and the engineering profession. NAPA members are engaged in all aspects of asphalt pavement use: production, installation, research, policy and education. This involvement helps provide safe and efficient pavement to the public. For more information visit asphalppavements.org.
Media Contact: Jack Sartor
NAPA Communications Director | napa@asphalppavements.org | (312) 904-7800 x247
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Conclusion
The goal of this report is to help residents and business owners in the affected areas prepare for, or recover after, the storms. This will be accomplished through direct support to the states and an effort on the part of FEMA, OSHA, and other federal agencies to conduct outreach programs and provide voluntary training. Each county in Arkansas is being paired with a FEMA Regional Response Team (RRT) to facilitate recovery efforts under local direction.