Tell Your Congressman to Vote “AYE” on H.R. 7.

Tell Congress to Pass the Highway & Energy Bill is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

Read the full Highway Users support letter submitted to House leadership here.

The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act has been posted to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee website.  Full bill text here.

Highway Users Supports – H.R. 7 House Transportation Bill is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

Contacts:
Cathy Gillen, 443-463-4449 (cell), 202-857-1200 (office), cathygillen@highways.org
Daisy Singh, 202-857-1200, daisysingh@highways.org

House Transportation Bill Sets Excellent Priorities; Reforms & Streamlines Federal Highway Programs, Eliminates Earmarks

American Highway Users Alliance Calls for Bipartisan Support

Today American Highway Users Alliance President & CEO Greg Cohen praised Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure for releasing a new surface transportation authorization bill that will stabilize current levels of highway funding, allow for long-term planning, prioritize critical transportation priorities, eliminate earmarks, increase State flexibility, reduce federal mandates, consolidate and reduce the number of small programs, cut through bureaucratic red tape, and fund critical research.  The bill would establish annual funding levels for highway programs from $42.6 billion to $43.5 billion between 2013 and 2016.

The transportation titles will be incorporated into H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.   The Highway Users Alliance looks forward to reviewing the non-transportation titles as they become available.

Chairman Mica’s bill is full of important reforms that are critical to reassuring taxpayers that federal-aid funding for highways is invested prudently and not wasted on earmarks, lost in Washington bureaucracy, or mandated to diversionary programs.  Passage of the bill would go a long way toward restoring public trust in Congressional transportation priorities and increase support for the stressed, inadequate federal user fee on highway fuels over the long term.  “We believe that reforms like those being proposed are critical to fuel taxpayers,” said Highway Users’ President Greg Cohen.  “Without such reforms, the public would remain skeptical about paying needed user fees to fund nationally-needed highway programs and projects.

In particular, the Highway Users strongly supports the priority given to life-saving safety improvements on all public roads and to the economically-critical mobility investments on our 160,000-mile National Highway System, including the 46,000-mile Interstate Highway System.  Cohen pointed out, “The boost in funding for safety projects is common in both the House and Senate bills and will be critical toward the steady reduction of highway deaths.  Ultimately, we envision a future where no one is killed on American roads.”  Cohen added, “The attention given to the National Highway System reflects a back-to-the-basics approach to the federal program, in which the projects of critical economic interest to the country are prioritized so that we can move interstate commerce and be stronger competitors in the world economy.”

The Highway Users also supports provisions in the bill that create an alternative transportation account of the Highway Trust Fund that supplies a stable source of funding for mass transit, congestion mitigation/air quality projects, and other non-traditional transportation projects.  These programs would also be partially funded with contributions from the general fund of the Treasury, thus reducing the financial strains facing the “highway account” of the Highway Trust Fund.

Cohen praised the Environmental Streamlining title of the bill.  “The streamlining provisions are literally ground-breaking,” said Cohen.  “They will revolutionize the painfully slow and wasteful federal approval process, ensuring that up or down decisions on major projects occur quickly, with better federal agency responsiveness.  They empower the President and state governors to identify critical projects for thorough, yet expedited environmental reviews.  Also, minor projects will not face many of the expensive, time-consuming reviews that had always been intended for major projects alone.”

Although the House and Senate bills have funding, term-length and some policy differences, there are many similarities in vision, reform and core priorities.  Cohen expressed optimism on the prospects for final passage of a bill this year. “The Highway Users is pleased that both bills are moving forward in their respective chambers.  Once the bills pass the House and Senate this month, it will be important to resolve the differences as quickly as possible, enact a conference report that can pass both chambers and be signed into law by President Obama.  It is way past time to get America’s people and economy moving again.”

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The American Highway Users Alliance represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility.

NEWS RELEASE – House Highway Bill Commended is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Daisy Singh, 202-857-1200, daisysingh@highways.org

WASHINGTON, DC (January 19, 2012) – Today the American Highway Users Alliance expressed deep disappointment at the White House’s decision to reject the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project.

Highway Users President and CEO Greg Cohen remarked, “The White House had the opportunity to not only create thousands of much-needed jobs but the chance to increase North American energy independence.  The Keystone Pipeline would have given our nation’s economy a much-needed boost at a time when so many Americans are desperately seeking work.  For motorists, the pipeline would have improved fuel price stability in an unstable world.

“While we are dismayed by this final outcome, we pledge to continue working with Congressional lawmakers to re-open this issue and get Keystone XL built to help us meet our country’s energy needs.”

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The American Highway Users Alliance represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility.

Highway Users Disappointed in Keystone Pipeline Decision is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Daisy Singh, 202-857-1200, daisysingh@highways.org

WASHINGTON, DC (November 30, 2011) – Today the American Highway Users Alliance (Highway Users) expressed disappointment with the delay of the release of the House highway authorization bill until early next year.

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica announced today that the federal highway bill would be postponed until after the holidays because the end-of-year legislative schedule is too busy to fit it in.

Highway Users President & CEO Greg Cohen remarked, “We are deeply disappointed with the delay of the House bill.  The state of disrepair of American infrastructure impedes economic progress and Congress has a chance to improve conditions.  Lawmakers should focus on getting the nation’s economic engine moving again by passing a new highway bill instead of taking another recess for the holidays.”

The delay of the bill backtracks on a commitment from House leaders earlier this month to deliver a federal highway bill by the end of the year.  We share Chairman Mica’s frustrations and pledge to work with him to get the process moving again as quickly as possible.

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The American Highway Users Alliance represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility.

American Highway Users Alliance Deeply Concerned Over Highway Bill Postponement is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Daisy Singh, 202-857-1200, daisysingh@highways.org

WASHINGTON, DC (November 17, 2011) –The American Highway Users Alliance (“The Highway Users”) commends Speaker Boehner, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, and other House lawmakers for announcing their plan to introduce the House highway bill in the coming weeks. The House will move forward a five-year bill, H.R. 7:  “The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act”, which should be moved through the House before the end of the year.

Highway Users President & CEO Greg Cohen remarked, “This is a big step forward. We look forward to reviewing the contents of the bill when Chairman Mica formally introduces it next month. The policy priorities established by Chairman Mica are good news for motorists, truckers, and other highway users.

“We applaud the plan to streamline bureaucracy and reduce project delays. To garner the support of taxpayers, national priorities should include safety investments, congestion relief, improved condition and performance of major roads and bridges, trucking freight corridors, and research. The Highway Users also supports energy independence and we agree that access to America’s own oil resources should be a national priority.

“It is critical that funding in the bill remain at current levels, at a minimum, and account for inflation over the next five years.

“The long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is also important. We encourage the House to develop fiscally sustainable funding sources for the Highway Trust Fund.

Ultimately, the House bill must be reconciled with the bipartisan Senate bill. We believe it can be done and encourage all Members of Congress from both parties to work in good faith to keep America moving.

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The American Highway Users Alliance represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility.

Highway Users Alliance Supports Progress on House Highway Bill is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

The “Big 4″ — Chairman Boxer (D-Cal.), Ranking Member Inhofe (R-Okla.), Subcommittee Chairman Baucus (D-Mont.), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Vitter (R-La.) — along with the other Senators on the Committee spoke with pride about the spirit of working together across party lines towards this important milestone.

At least three other Committees will need to weigh in on other titles of the bill before the bill can be taken to the Senate floor.  The funding title must be developed by the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Baucus.  At today’s mark-up, Senator Baucus committed to find $12 billion in additional revenue to prevent cuts.  The transit title will be developed by the Senate Banking Committee and the commerce title (including truck safety and possibly auto safety) will be developed by the Commerce Committee.  The Highway Users urges all Committees involved to seek the type of bipartisan consensus found by the EPW Members.

The EPW Committee adopted a single amendment, which combined a manager’s amendment with several other Senators’ amendments that received unanimous support from the “Big 4″ en-bloc.  The “Big 4″ agreed to oppose all other amendments and, in deference to the Committee leadership, all other amendments from Committee Senators were withdrawn without any votes.

The Highway Users urged support for the bill and sent a letter to the Committee leadership yesterday.

The text of the en-bloc amendment adopted by the Committee can be found in two separate links:  Click here for the original managers’ amendment developed by the “Big 4″. And click here for the amendments accepted from other Members of the Committee.

The text and summary of the bill as introduced (before amendments were added) can be found on the EPW Committee website.

Senate EPW Committee Votes 18-0 for Two-Year Highway Bill is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

• Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – Board Meeting
• Tuesday, June 26, 2012 – Board Meeting & Seminar
• Thursday, October 25, 2012 – Highway Users Annual Meeting

All events will be held in Washington, DC.  Highway Users members, please check your email for details.

2012 Highway Users Meetings is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

H.R. 2887 is the eighth extension of SAFETEA-LU.  House Speaker Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Reid reached an agreement on the contents of the bill over the weekend.  The agreement kept the bill “clean” – meaning that no changes in policy are included – and at current post-rescission funding levels ($39.0 billion for highways annualized).  Contract authority totaling $19.9 billion for highway construction, $660 million for NHTSA highway safety programs, and $5.1 billion for transit was approved through March 31, 2012.  As part of the agreement, highway user fees to fund the Highway Trust Fund were extended as well.

The decision to pass the extension at 2011 contract authority levels is a victory for highway supporters.  However, some believe that the six-month length of the extension may also relieve pressure from Congress to move the multi-year authorization bill forward at all before 2012 elections.  Both House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Boxer are pushing to make this the last extension before a comprehensive reauthorization bill is completed in early 2012.

The next step is for Congress to appropriate the authorized funds.  This will initially be done through a short-term “continuing resolution”.  We expect that the first continuing resolution will keep funding levels stable.  Ultimately, final funding levels will be affected by the different perspectives of the House & Senate Appropriations Committees, the work of the “Super Committee” and possibly could be even be affected by the unlikely prospects of Congress agreeing to some jobs bill(s) with an infrastructure elements to it.

If you are a Member of The Highway Users and have any questions, please feel free to contact Greg Cohen at gregcohen@highways.org.  Look for additional emails coming soon with more legislative news, including a discussion of the House appropriations bill and President Obama’s Jobs bill.

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Congress Passes Six-Month Highway Bill Extension is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance

ROADS SAFE Act is a post from: American Highway Users Alliance