State departments of transportation need financial relief just to maintain their 2020 highway construction program. With less drivers on the road as a result of COVID-19, critical transportation revenues are drying up.
Here are three legislative items the asphalt pavement industry needs to keep its eye on this summer.
1. HEROES Bill.
Passed by the U.S. House, the HEROES bill provides $15 billion for AASHTO and includes 100 percent federal payable share on future highway projects. Earlier this year, NAPA supported AASHTO’s request to Congress for $49.95 billion as an immediate revenue backstop for state departments of transportation. The Senate may consider this bill after the July 4 recess.
2. lNVEST In America Act.
The House plans to package this bill with other infrastructure proposals and vote on the measure the week of June 29. The Senate companion bill, S. 2302, America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, is pending before the U.S. Senate. While the INVEST Act increases federal-aid highway spending over five years, it also establishes two new core highway programs. A NAPA summary of the INVEST Act is available here.
3. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill.
THUD provides annual funding for federal-aid highway and airport improvement programs. The big question is whether the FY 2021 THUD bill will fund the balance of the $49.95 billion AASHTO request. The THUD Subcommittee meets on July 8 to markup the bill for full committee consideration the week of July 13.
How Congress is addressing these and other infrastructure issues will be the subject of a legislative session during NAPA’s Midyear Virtual Meeting. Click here to learn more and to register,
Ashley Jackson, is the Senior Director of Government Affairs at the National Asphalt Pavement Association.
