The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) joined 68 other organizations last week, urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule “floor time” for the 2021 Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (STRA) before Congress adjourns.
In the June 14 letter, the groups stressed the bill would create jobs and boost the economy.
“Investing in infrastructure remains a transformational opportunity for Congress to improve the nation’s economy, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and build for the future,” the letter stressed. “An announcement of floor time for the STRA consideration would be a strong signal of preserved continuity of federal funds and help facilitate necessary action among other relevant Senate committees.”
The bill was passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in late May. The letter also addressed the concern within the transportation industry that the current one-year funding extension for the STRA expires on September 30.
“Short-term extensions generate significant disruptions and uncertainty for state transportation programs and the people and businesses relying on infrastructure development,” the letter said. “Highway and public transportation programs are the only federal infrastructure authorizations set to expire September 30 and cannot wait past the summer work period for Senate action.”
The EPW surface reauthorization bill would increase federal highway investment by 34 percent while pursuing important environmental review and approval process reforms. The bill would also protect infrastructure assets from future natural disasters, preserve state flexibility and improve the safety of the country’s transportation assets.
The letter was signed by nearly 70 groups, including the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the U.S. Chamber of commerce, the American Public Transportation, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.