CAGTC Members,
This Wednesday, there were two Congressional hearings focused on infrastructure.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing titled “The Economic Benefits of Highway Infrastructure Investment and Accelerated Project Delivery.” Witnesses included: Patrick McKenna, Vice President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; Steven Demetriou, Member of the Business Roundtable Infrastructure Committee; and Michael Replogle, Depute Commissioner for Policy, New York City Department of Transportation. Written testimony as well as a video of the hearing can be found online here. Please find a summary of relevant conversation here and below, please find a few key takeaways:
- The economic case for infrastructure investment is strong, and it is important to continue publicizing across the nation.
- Funding uncertainty diminishes the economic benefits of infrastructure investment.
- While some Members of Congress are eager to continue making project delivery changes, others are skeptical that more can be done without jeopardizing environmental protections.
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing titled “Our Nation’s Crumbling Infrastructure and the Need for Immediate Action.” The hearing consisted of two panels. Witnesses on the first panel included: The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and The Honorable Sam Graves, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Witnesses on the second panel were: Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO; Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Gregory E. DiLoreto, P.E., 2013 ASCE Past-President and Chair of the Committee for America's Infrastructure; Chris Spear, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations; and Marc Scribner, Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Written testimony as well as a video of the hearing can be found online here. Please find a summary of relevant conversation here and below, please find a few key takeaways:
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman DeFazio (D-OR) called for increasing the gas tax to fund infrastructure investments until a national vehicle miles traveled (VMT) study is conducted. He estimated that a national VMT program will not be ready to be implemented until 10 to 12 years in the future.
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Graves (R-MO) said a VMT is the best way to capture all users and fund infrastructure.
- Four of the five witnesses on the second panel agreed that an increase in the gas tax is the best way to shore up the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).
- Some other funding suggestions for the HTF included:
- A VMT;
- Increasing bonding and tax incentives;
- A carbon tax; and
- Some Members of Congress proposed decoupling HTF funding from user-fees, noting that infrastructure investments generate high return on investment and as such the benefits of investment are not just felt by users, but by all those living in the U.S. However, some Members were adamantly against such an approach.
- Many Republican Members of Congress indicated that permit streamlining is essential. While most witnesses agreed the process can be improved, they noted that a lack of funding is the most pressing issue.
Thank you,
Katie Cross
Manager, Member Communications & Policy
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
1625 K Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
tradecorridors.org
Office: (202) 828-9100
Cell: (202) 679-7707