Senate finance committee reports economic stimulus without highway funding

The Senate Finance Committee Jan. 30 completed action on economic stimulus legislation and did not include any funding for highway construction. AGC has consistently urged House and Senate leaders to fix the highway trust fund shortfall at the early possible opportunity. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is still contemplating introducing an amendment during floor consideration that would transfer $5 billion in transportation related revenue from the general fund tonto the Highway Trust Fund. The Wyden amendment would get the money out to states in the next 90 days and have it obligated in the first half of the year. State DOTs are reporting that they have about 3,000 projects totaling more than $17 billion that are ready to go to bid if additional revenue is provided. While adding infrastructure to the stimulus is a long shot at this point, 29 Senators wrote to House and Senate leaders the last week of January in support of the Wyden proposal. Wyden has conservative Republican support by Senator John Thune (R-S.D.).

AGC has contacted Senators in support of both the Wyden amendment. Please contact your Senators and ask their support for the Wyden Amendment. You can send an e-mail to your Senator through AGC's Legislative Action Center by visiting http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=19930213&sid=3397193&m=427078&u=AGCA&s=https://www.bipac.net/issue_alert.asp?g=AGC&issue=Econ_Stimulus&parent=AGC.