Congress Approves!!
Congress Approves 6-Month Surface,
4-Month Aviation Extensions at Current Funding
The Senate voted 92-6 Thursday evening to send President Barack Obama a measure extending authorization at current funding levels for federal highway and transit programs until March 31 and for federal aviation programs until Jan. 31. Action came one day before aviation programs and revenue collection authority were scheduled to lapse and 15 days before surface transportation programs and revenue collection authority were scheduled to expire.
Representatives passed the bill by voice vote Tuesday after a short debate in which no member spoke against it. The Senate reached a unanimous-consent agreement Thursday afternoon to call up the bill, debate two amendments for 10 minutes, and then vote on the amendments and final passage. Both amendments failed.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials issued a statement Thursday evening commending Congress for approving the bill (HR 2887) to extend both the nation's surface transportation and aviation programs.
"The six-month extension of federal highway and transit programs approved by Congress today ensures the continuation of thousands of job-creating infrastructure projects in every state," said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. "We congratulate the House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle for their tireless hard work to bring about this positive result. We encourage the president to quickly sign the legislation. AASHTO is prepared to work with Congress and the administration over the next six months to pass a robust, multiyear surface transportation reauthorization bill."
When signed into law by the president, this would be the eighth short-term extension of the 2005 surface transportation authorization law known as "SAFETEA-LU," which originally expired Sept. 30, 2009. And it would be the 22nd extension of FAA's authorization, which expired Sept. 30, 2007.
Congress has not acted on a new six-year highway and transit package during the past two years because of differences on funding levels and how to pay for a comprehensive investment program. Likewise, Congress has been unable to agree to a multiyear FAA reauthorization due to policy disputes.
As a supplement to maintaining existing current funding levels, Obama sent to Congress on Monday a bill, the American Jobs Act, to pump $50 billion into transportation projects next fiscal year and allocate $10 billion to establish a national infrastructure bank. (see related story)
2 Amendments to Cut Spending Voted Down
Senators went on the record supporting maintaining existing transportation funding levels, voting overwhelmingly to reject two amendments that would have trimmed spending.
Both amendments were offered by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky. The first amendment would have allowed the Highway Trust Fund to spend no more than it collected next fiscal year in gasoline, diesel fuel, and other user fees. Paul said this would cut an estimated $9 billion from highway and transit programs in Fiscal Year 2012. The amendment failed 84-14.
The second Paul amendment would have cut Federal Aviation Administration appropriations to Fiscal Year 2008 levels. Paul said the provision would have sliced $700 million out of FAA's budget during the 4.5-month duration of the extension. The amendment failed 61-36.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-California, issued a statement after Thursday's votes.
"Today was a crucial moment for the 1.8 million workers and the thousands of businesses who depend on a strong transportation bill," Boxer said. "There were needless delays, but in the end the Senate showed it was willing to do the right thing. By turning back an amendment that was intended to cut surface transportation by one-third, it puts us in a good position as we move forward on our two-year [reauthorization] bill."
Boxer spoke on the Senate floor earlier Thursday regarding objections to the extension that had been raised by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma. Coburn held up consideration of the transportation extensions Wednesday and most of Thursday while arguing the requirement that states spend a certain percentage of their highway funds for "enhancement projects" such as bicycle and pedestrian paths should be eliminated. Video of Boxer's 29-minute-long floor remarks is available at www.youtube.com/epwchairmanboxer.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Florida, also released a statement Thursday evening applauding the Senate's passage of the bill.
"It is a positive step for the country that the Congress has passed this historic combination of extensions, which is important for job creation and our nation's infrastructure," Mica said. "With the FAA bill delayed four years and a two-year delay on the highway measure, Congress must now act responsibly to enact long-term reauthorizations that will put Americans back to work and build our nation's infrastructure. I challenge House and Senate leaders to continue to work toward long overdue solutions that address our transportation needs."
More information on AASHTO's reauthorization principles is available at bit.ly/AASHTOrp.
Questions regarding this article may be directed to editor@aashtojournal.org.
© American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
444 N Capitol St. NW - Suite 249 - Washington, DC 20001
4-Month Aviation Extensions at Current Funding
The Senate voted 92-6 Thursday evening to send President Barack Obama a measure extending authorization at current funding levels for federal highway and transit programs until March 31 and for federal aviation programs until Jan. 31. Action came one day before aviation programs and revenue collection authority were scheduled to lapse and 15 days before surface transportation programs and revenue collection authority were scheduled to expire.
Representatives passed the bill by voice vote Tuesday after a short debate in which no member spoke against it. The Senate reached a unanimous-consent agreement Thursday afternoon to call up the bill, debate two amendments for 10 minutes, and then vote on the amendments and final passage. Both amendments failed.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials issued a statement Thursday evening commending Congress for approving the bill (HR 2887) to extend both the nation's surface transportation and aviation programs.
"The six-month extension of federal highway and transit programs approved by Congress today ensures the continuation of thousands of job-creating infrastructure projects in every state," said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. "We congratulate the House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle for their tireless hard work to bring about this positive result. We encourage the president to quickly sign the legislation. AASHTO is prepared to work with Congress and the administration over the next six months to pass a robust, multiyear surface transportation reauthorization bill."
When signed into law by the president, this would be the eighth short-term extension of the 2005 surface transportation authorization law known as "SAFETEA-LU," which originally expired Sept. 30, 2009. And it would be the 22nd extension of FAA's authorization, which expired Sept. 30, 2007.
Congress has not acted on a new six-year highway and transit package during the past two years because of differences on funding levels and how to pay for a comprehensive investment program. Likewise, Congress has been unable to agree to a multiyear FAA reauthorization due to policy disputes.
As a supplement to maintaining existing current funding levels, Obama sent to Congress on Monday a bill, the American Jobs Act, to pump $50 billion into transportation projects next fiscal year and allocate $10 billion to establish a national infrastructure bank. (see related story)
2 Amendments to Cut Spending Voted Down
Senators went on the record supporting maintaining existing transportation funding levels, voting overwhelmingly to reject two amendments that would have trimmed spending.
Both amendments were offered by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky. The first amendment would have allowed the Highway Trust Fund to spend no more than it collected next fiscal year in gasoline, diesel fuel, and other user fees. Paul said this would cut an estimated $9 billion from highway and transit programs in Fiscal Year 2012. The amendment failed 84-14.
The second Paul amendment would have cut Federal Aviation Administration appropriations to Fiscal Year 2008 levels. Paul said the provision would have sliced $700 million out of FAA's budget during the 4.5-month duration of the extension. The amendment failed 61-36.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-California, issued a statement after Thursday's votes.
"Today was a crucial moment for the 1.8 million workers and the thousands of businesses who depend on a strong transportation bill," Boxer said. "There were needless delays, but in the end the Senate showed it was willing to do the right thing. By turning back an amendment that was intended to cut surface transportation by one-third, it puts us in a good position as we move forward on our two-year [reauthorization] bill."
Boxer spoke on the Senate floor earlier Thursday regarding objections to the extension that had been raised by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma. Coburn held up consideration of the transportation extensions Wednesday and most of Thursday while arguing the requirement that states spend a certain percentage of their highway funds for "enhancement projects" such as bicycle and pedestrian paths should be eliminated. Video of Boxer's 29-minute-long floor remarks is available at www.youtube.com/epwchairmanboxer.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Florida, also released a statement Thursday evening applauding the Senate's passage of the bill.
"It is a positive step for the country that the Congress has passed this historic combination of extensions, which is important for job creation and our nation's infrastructure," Mica said. "With the FAA bill delayed four years and a two-year delay on the highway measure, Congress must now act responsibly to enact long-term reauthorizations that will put Americans back to work and build our nation's infrastructure. I challenge House and Senate leaders to continue to work toward long overdue solutions that address our transportation needs."
More information on AASHTO's reauthorization principles is available at bit.ly/AASHTOrp.
Questions regarding this article may be directed to editor@aashtojournal.org.
© American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
444 N Capitol St. NW - Suite 249 - Washington, DC 20001
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