ARTBA Highway & Bridge Government Construction Market Affairs - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ARTBA Highway & Bridge Government Construction Market Affairs Update Update Alison Premo Black, PhD Lauren Schapker ARTBA Senior VP & Chief Economist Vice President ARTBA Federal Issues Program Legislative Affairs May 9, 2016

COVID-19 & Infrastructure Investment • Congressional focus slowly moving from economic relief to economic recovery • Unlikely more legislation will until mid-late July • 4 economic relief measures passed – #2 Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (signed into law) – #3 CARES Act (signed into law)

CARES Act—Signed March 27 • Largest legislation in history – Small business aid, unemployment, stimulus checks to individuals • Paycheck Protection Program – Infrastructure support for ailing sectors • $10 billion for airports • $25 billion for transit, distributed by formula – $150 billion in aid for state and local governments • Strings attached to funding

Two-pronged Advocacy Effort Economic Relief Economic Recovery Multi-year Immediate Surface revenue Transportation backstop for Reauthorization Bill state DOTs

Two-pronged Advocacy Effort Economic Relief Multi-year Immediate Surface revenue Transportation backstop for Reauthorization Bill state DOTs

Immediate Revenue Backstop • AASHTO sent request to Congress for $49.95 billion – AASHTO request to cover next 18 months • 12 states have delayed or cancelled over $5.6 billion in projects • State DOTs are facing challenges not unlike those faced by transit agencies dealing with lost fare revenues, airports with lost fees

Immediate Revenue Backstop • 137 members of Congress signed on in support of $50 billion to state DOTs • Led by Reps. Lamb and Gibbs • ARTBA worked with allied organizations to generate signatures

HEROES Act—House passed May 15 • Nearly $1 trillion in aid for state and local governments • $15 billion in support for state DOTs – Waives federal match for remainder of FY2020 – Cancels August redistribution of funds – $15 billion intended to support DOTs through end of Sept.

Immediate Revenue Backstop • Senate action uncertain • Support effort mirrored in Senate • Letter led by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) • Bipartisan group of 26 Senators signed on • Senate may pass next round of COVID response legislation before August recess

Two-Pronged Advocacy Effort

Surface Transportation Reauthorization • FAST Act expires Sept. 30 • House and Senate each have proposals

America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act • $287 billion over 5 years for highway programs • 27% increase over current levels • Passed unanimously out of Senate EPW Committee • Creates new bridge program and new resilience program

INVEST in America Act • $494 billion surface transportation reauthorization – $319 billion for highway investments – $105 billion for public transportation improvements – $60 billion for rail investments – $10 billion for NHTSA and FMCSA • Developed and released by House Democrats

INVEST in America Act • First year of bill is a glorified extension • Climate initiatives woven throughout legislation – New discretionary grant programs – Expanded eligibility for existing programs – Greenhouse gas reduction programs • New bridge program • Enhanced transparency provisions • Emphasis on multi-modal and “Fix-It-First”

Next Steps: House • Democrats introduced “Moving Forward Act” • $1.5 trillion infrastructure package • Includes INVEST in America Act • Expansive package will be on House floor June 30-July 2 • Expected to pass on party-line vote

Next Steps: Senate • Senate: June 4 EPW Hearing • 3 Committees must still take action before Sept. 30: – Banking: Transit – Commerce: Safety, Trucking – Finance: Funding

Next Steps: Administration • White House release “imminent” – Expected to contain proposal for surface transportation reauthorization – Could influence action in the Senate

How Can You Help? www.artba.org/grassroots