New House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Bill
Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., proposed today a new House Transportation bill that seeks $230 billion in spending over six years for highways, highway safety and transit. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee might be going in the right direction by addressing the urgent needs of our infrastructure, but the Chief Executive Officer of the AGC, Stephen E. Sandherr stated on a press release that 'These reforms will go a long way in helping restore Americans' confidence in the federal transportation program and their willingness to pay for using what remains the world's most efficient transportation network.'
AGC has previously proposed some of these ideas on their study 'Case for Infrastructure and Reform'. Mr Sandher also commented 'It is, however, disappointing that the Committee does not address the revenue shortfall that threatens to undermine the long-term viability of our transportation system. Economic growth will be hampered and our infrastructure deficit will continue to grow should the significant maintenance and repair cuts outlined in this bill be enacted.'
Construction sectors are now urgently opposing to this new bill, that represents nearly 20 percent less funding than the last long-term bill approved in 2005. If the bill is approved, the construction industry will see a reduction on funding to states for road and bridge programs, and the unemployment rate will be even higher.
AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said '...it is astonishing and unconscionable that the House Republican leadership would push a surface transportation re-authorization bill that would gut current infrastructure investment by a third and obliterate over half a million jobs in the next year alone.'
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