Committee leaders say progress is being made on landmark highway legislation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE), sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), calling for the repeal of Section 1438 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The provision rescinds $7.6 billion in federal-aid Highway Program contract authority on July 1, 2020.
In the letter, Barrasso and Carper note that they are making progress towards introducing and advancing bipartisan highway legislation. They write, “We plan to report the bill out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this summer. Working together, we believe we can pass a landmark reauthorization that funds our collective priorities and protects our communities.”
They go on to note that unless the rescission from the FAST Act is repealed as part of a future budget measure, it will harm states, slow the economy, and cost jobs.
Read the full letter here and below.
Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:
We are writing to you to request that you address a significant issue facing our nation’s infrastructure and economic security.
We are making progress on a bipartisan highway bill. We plan to report the bill out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this summer. Working together, we believe we can pass a landmark reauthorization that funds our collective priorities and protects our communities.
One issue that needs to be addressed before our highway infrastructure bill is likely to be signed into law is Section 1438 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act; P.L. 114-94). The provision rescinds $7.6 billion in Federal-aid Highway Program contract authority on July 1, 2020. It is critical that this rescission be repealed in any future budget or spending agreement that the Congress considers before the end of this fiscal year. If it stands, this rescission will impact every state’s ability to plan, build and repair needed roads and bridges that are vital to American communities. Failure to address this rescission will cost jobs and needlessly slow our economy.
Your favorable consideration of this request is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
John Barrasso, M.D. Thomas R. Carper
Chairman Ranking Member
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