WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today highlighted the growing support for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, which passed unanimously out of committee last week.
What Some of the Stakeholders Are Saying About the Legislation:
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO):
“The proposed Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 provides much-needed program stability through its five-year funding platform at 22 percent above current levels. The bill also provides 90 percent of total highway funding from the Highway Trust Fund by formula to states, continuing to utilize the proven foundation of the Federal-aid Highway Program. It also directly addresses resiliency, carbon reduction, and safety for all roadway users, while supporting urban and rural communities, improving project delivery, and providing the flexibility necessary for states to maintain and improve their roads and bridges.”
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC):
“The American Council of Engineering Companies – the voice of the nation’s engineering industry – strongly supports the committee’s bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act. This essential legislation provides critical resources necessary to upgrade our roads and bridges, improve safety, incorporate new technologies, and enhance the resilience and sustainability of our transportation networks.”
American Highway Users Alliance:
“The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act will help give a needed boost to our economy and ensure that more Americans can get back to work as we emerge from the pandemic. The jobs that will be created by this legislation pay well and will help America at this critical time.”
American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA):
“The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) commends you on the introduction of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (STRA). The legislation would improve public safety and economic competitiveness, while helping deliver a surface transportation network that benefits all Americans. The bipartisan consensus shown by the STRA’s introduction indicates transportation infrastructure policy remains an area that can bring both sides to the table on shared priorities. We greatly appreciate your leadership to find common ground that will deliver tangible results.”
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):
“We applaud and offer our support to your legislation, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021. Your bipartisan, five-year, $303.5 billion highway reauthorization bill represents a vital increase in funding levels, provides much-needed program stability, supports all communities, and addresses roadway safety, climate change impact and resiliency.”
American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA):
“The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) thanks you for the introduction of The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021. ATSSA commends the bipartisan work of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and especially the focus on roadway safety infrastructure investments. The robust levels of funding laid out in this legislation are greatly needed and will allow state departments of transportation and communities across the country to invest in life-saving roadway safety countermeasures.”
American Trucking Association (ATA):
“The leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have taken a strong, bipartisan step toward passing meaningful infrastructure legislation this year. With the current highway reauthorization set to expire in just a few months, we are pleased to see this committee set aside partisan jockeying and advance a bill that both Democrats and Republicans can support. We want to thank Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Capito and all the members of the committee for their work to get this far and producing a bill that provides a significant increase in highway funding, while also making critical progress on streamlining and project delivery.”
Associated General Contractors of America (AGC):
“Senators Carper, Capito, Cardin and Cramer are demonstrating that Congress can find bipartisan solutions to challenging policy issues. Their proposed reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation legislation will provide needed funding increases to improve aging roads and bridges and support good-paying construction jobs. All told, the measure will increase surface transportation funding by over $305 billion during the next five years. Moving forward, the Associated General Contractors of America will take every possible step to support this important new legislation and to encourage its swift enactment. More broadly, we hope this measure will become the first of many complicated policy problems that are addressed in a bipartisan manner.”
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM):
“The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 reflects many of the policies critical to keeping equipment manufacturers competitive in the global economy. It also takes an important bipartisan step forward in advancing the ongoing debate about the future of U.S. infrastructure. We applaud the leadership that you and the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works have provided to build momentum and ensure swift passage of this important bill.”
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE):
“The International Union of Operating Engineers sincerely appreciates the bipartisan leadership you have demonstrated in assembling the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021. We encourage Senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee to support the legislation. The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents nearly 400,000 skilled tradespeople in the United States and Canada, tens of thousands of whom are building our country’s transportation network every day. Building transportation infrastructure provides more work opportunities for the proud members of the IUOE than any other area of private or public construction investment. A robust surface transportation reauthorization should be the cornerstone of any bipartisan infrastructure package.”
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA):
“LiUNA commends Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito in crafting a bipartisan measure that acknowledges the critical role of surface transportation to the economy of the United States and each and every citizen of this nation. The five-year $303.5 billion investment is an essential component of the overall infrastructure investments that have been promised by both political parties. The 34 percent increase in funding over current investment levels will help states and localities address backlogs in maintenance, make investments in freight corridors and improve safety and congestion.”
League of American Bicyclists:
"The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 makes a critical investment in safe streets for everyone. The bill's proposed changes to the Transportation Alternatives program will make it easier for local governments to build bike lanes, sidewalks, and trails, plus new language on the safety of vulnerable road users puts a desperately needed focus on reducing fatalities and serious injuries among people biking, walking, and using wheelchairs."
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM):
“The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 authorizes dedicated federal investment in rural and urban communities, funding for the next generation of clean transportation and infrastructure technology, regulatory reforms that simplify project delivery and strengthens federal standards to ensure a safe surface transportation environment for workers and the traveling public. The $303.5 billion included in the Act increases federal baseline infrastructure spending by more than 34% from the previous reauthorization and is a significant step in addressing the well-documented need for updating our infrastructure systems. Manufacturers have long advocated for these upgrades and know first-hand the benefits as well as the competitive advantages to be gained from increased investment in America’s infrastructure.”
National Safety Council (NSC):
“On behalf of the National Safety Council (NSC), congratulations on reaching agreement on a bipartisan surface transportation bill. NSC appreciates the attention you gave to improving safety for all road users in your draft legislation. The legislation’s prioritization of high fatality areas, like rural roads, and vulnerable roadway users will target existing resources where they are most needed to save lives. We also appreciate that your bill provides flexibility in the highway safety improvement program. This will allow local officials to draw on their firsthand experience and connections to choose context-sensitive countermeasures that are best for their local community. Finally, the bill rightly recognizes that this nation must do more to reduce speed, as it is one of the leading killers on our roadways.”
National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association (NSSGA):
“We welcome many policies within The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 that were included with the cooperation and support of your respective staff. We welcome inclusion of One Federal Decision, which will greatly enhance the permitting process by eliminating duplicative environmental reviews and ensure public works projects are delivered on time. We also welcome prioritization of flexible formula funds for State Department of Transportation agencies, which ensures urban and rural communities alike can receive the necessary investments to improve their local surface projects.”
National Wildlife Federation (NWF):
“The bipartisan surface transportation authorization bill from the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee would make a strong down payment on some of the most important infrastructure challenges facing people and wildlife alike. We thank Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito for prioritizing solutions that reduce pollution and bolster community resilience, and for providing $350 million for life-saving wildlife crossings. We look forward to working with Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Capito, and the full committee to build upon this strong foundation as part of the larger infrastructure debate.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 as you move to mark up the bill tomorrow. Your constructive, bipartisan approach is a model for addressing America’s critical infrastructure needs. This is particularly important at a time when some appear too willing to abandon discussions that can lead to long-term, durable infrastructure policy. In addition to authorizing historic levels of highway funding – a 34 percent increase over current funding levels – STRA would make important project delivery enhancements, including provisions to improve the efficiency of environmental reviews, and to allow funding eligibility for utility relocation on complex projects.”
The bill is also supported by other groups, including: Contractors Association of West Virginia, National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), American Bus Association (ABA), National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), National Parks Second Century Action Coalition (NPSCAC), Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), American Concrete Association, Coalition for America’s Gateway and Trade Corridors (CAGTC), Highway Materials Group (HMG), Northern American Concrete Alliance (NACA), FP2 Inc., Portland Cement Association, Maryland Asphalt Association (MAA), the Greater Cumberland Committee (TGCC), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Association of American Railroads (AAR), Motor and Equipment Manufacturers (MEMA), ITS America, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA).
The bill is supported by several states and their departments of transportation, including: Various West Virginia state elected officials, Robert C. Byrd Corridor H Highway Authority, Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Montana Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Transportation, and Kansas Department of Transportation.
