Maryland Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Aug. 15.
Leadership of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) introduced legislation calling for the largest authorization for highway funding in history. Spearheaded by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Tom Carper (D-DE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, authorizes $287 billion over five years, including $259 billion for formula programs, to maintain and repair America’s roads and bridges. This amounts to a 27 percent increase above the aggregate surface transportation legislation levels.
Among other provisions, the legislation calls for the following:
$287 billion in highway spending;
$259 billion to be distributed to states by formula;
codification of key tenets of the “One Federal Decision” policy to streamline project delivery and federal approvals;
establishment of a program to support projects that will improve the resilience of roads and bridges to natural disasters and extreme weather events; and,
authorization of a mix of formula-based and grant-based programs to begin to reduce transportation-related emissions.
“Federal investment in infrastructure is critical to expanding economic opportunity and making Maryland a better place to work and live. We encourage Congress to move swiftly to pass this vital legislation,” said Christine Ross, President and CEO, Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
The Senate EPW Committee has jurisdiction over most highway programs. To date, it is the first committee in Congress to move forward on reauthorizing the 2015 surface transportation legislation (FAST Act), which is set to expire on September 30, 2020. The Committee is expected to move this bipartisan language out before departing for the August recess, after which it will await action on the Senate floor.
To read the full text of the legislation, click here. A summary can be found by clicking here.
The Maryland Chamber will continue to monitor this very important legislation and report any updates as it makes its way through the legislative process.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Maryland Chamber of Commerce
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