highway trust fund

With the new Congress now firmly in place and working (well, sort of), the first couple of months of 2015 have been fascinating as politicians stake out new ground and rehash old positions. But if I had my 15 minutes of fame sitting in the corner offices of Senate and House leadership, I’d make the […]

As published by Michele Fuetsch and Eugene Mulero in Transport Topics.   Blumenauer Bill Would Raise Fuel Taxes; ATA’s Graves Touts Approach WASHINGTON — Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, held a press conference Feb. 4 to announce he has reintroduced the bill he put forth last year that would increase fuel taxes […]

Historically, our nation’s transportation system has supported peerless economic growth and a strong market for goods and services, all while creating and sustaining millions of middle class jobs. In past years, however, insufficient funding has left our transportation system to languish, so that our mass transit system careens from one budget crisis to the next […]

As published by Tom Curry and David Harrison in CQ.   President Barack Obama this morning will unveil a budget request that includes $238 billion in one-time new tax revenue to be devoted to a six-year highway bill. That money, combined with expected gas tax receipts, would keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent and pay […]

After years of dysfunction in DC, we may finally be having a moment of clarity on the need to tackle our nation’s shameful infrastructure financing deficit. Spurred by low gas prices and a Highway Trust Fund (yet again) facing insolvency in a few short months, leaders on both sides of the aisle spent the first […]

Host Senator Carper and White House, DOT Officials   Washington, D.C. – Transportation union leaders vowed to “redouble their efforts” to push for bipartisan solutions to the growing transportation infrastructure investment crisis that is undermining the economy and idling millions of jobs, said TTD President Edward Wytkind following the 2014 Fall Executive Committee meeting of […]

Washington, D.C. – Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) issues the following statement about Congress’s passage of HR 5021: “Yesterday Congress acted to treat the insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund as little more than a pothole needing a quick patch. While the legislation passed yesterday was urgently necessary, it does […]

As the Senate considers the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (H.R. 5021), I urge you to approve a final bill that ensures the Highway Trust Fund has sufficient revenue to avoid an immediate default and provides the 113th Congress an opportunity to consider a longer-term surface transportation bill. In addition, I urge you to reject a misguided amendment, expected to be offered, that would abdicate the federal responsibility to ensure a safe and modern multi-modal transportation network.

While we are pleased that the House is moving to avoid an immediate default of the Highway Trust Fund, we are extremely disappointed that the bill being considered today (H.R. 5021) is crafted in a way that will make it more likely that Congress will not consider a longer-term surface transportation bill. We find this decision difficult to understand and one that represents an abdication of responsibility to meet our nation’s most basic transportation needs, sustain economic growth, and create and maintain jobs in this still fragile economy. By extending the Highway Trust Fund to next May, this “kick the can down the road” proposal will likely result in a series of short-term extensions that undermine the ability of states to invest in transportation projects, increase business uncertainty, and impede job creation.

Washington, DC – Today, Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, praised Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) for his proposal to end decades of neglect of America’s surface transportation system. “Senator Murphy has shown bold leadership and a commitment to finding solutions to the anticipated collapse of the Highway Trust Fund, which funds vital […]