AASHTO Urges Congress to work on multi-year highway bill.
Press Release Summary:
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) was grateful that Congress approved 3-month extension of funding for Highway Trust Fund and urged House to follow Senate’s lead in approving multi-year authorization. Due to expire October 29, short-term patch provides $8 billion from general fund to prevent immediate shutdown of Highway Trust Fund. This marks third time in 10 months Congress kept Highway Trust Fund solvent via passage of short-term extension.
Original Press Release:
AASHTO Urges Congress to Continue Work on Multi-Year Bill
WASHINGTON D.C. – The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials expressed relief today that Congress approved a three-month extension of funding for the distressed Highway Trust Fund and urged the House to follow the Senate’s lead in approving a multi-year authorization that would establish much-needed certainty for state departments of transportation.
The short-term patch, which expires Oct. 29, sidesteps an immediate shutdown of the Highway Trust Fund by providing $8 billion from the general fund.
"We are pleased that Congress has sent the President legislation that keeps the Highway Trust Fund solvent through October, avoiding potentially serious disruption to state DOT projects and programs. But, this is the third time in 10 months that Congress has had to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through passage of a short-term extension," said AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright.
"AASHTO has long advocated for long-term surface transportation legislation because it provides certainty. We commend the Senate for approving a multi-year bill. It took strong leadership from both parties in the EPW, Commerce and Banking committees to write a bill that could earn such strong bipartisan support in the Senate.
"We urge the House to follow the Senate's lead and pass a surface transportation bill as soon as possible when they return to D.C. in September. We hope negotiations between the House and Senate lead to the kind of investment and reforms needed to keep America’s transportation infrastructure strong. The potential for a long-term authorization is encouraging, and we look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to make that happen, before time runs out yet again."
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) represents State Departments of Transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aashtospeaks.
