A bipartisan group of senators is introducing The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, which would establish new baseline funding of $303.5 billion for Department of Transportation programs to support highways, roads and bridges.
Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), along with Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) announced the Act would be marked up by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW).
The bill comes after the prior authorization for surface transportation programs expired in 2020 and Congress greenlighted a one-year extension that will expire at the end of September.
“I’m proud to join with my colleagues in crafting a bipartisan bill that invests in our nation’s transportation infrastructure at a historic high level, and in doing so, helps create jobs, curbs our carbon emissions, and expands opportunities for the American people,” Carper said in a statement.
“From the beginning of this process, I have expressed my desire to work together across the aisle to develop a bipartisan solution to address our nation’s infrastructure challenges. Our bill unveiled tonight accomplishes this. Not only will this comprehensive, bipartisan legislation help us rebuild and repair America’s surface transportation system, but it will also help us build new transportation infrastructure,” Capito said of the bill.
“These critical investments will help to provide economic opportunities now and for future generations,” Capito added.
“We greatly appreciate the leadership of EPW Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito and applaud their staffs for their tireless work, for introducing the bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021,” said National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Michele Stanley. “This Congress, Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito have embraced the bipartisan process and we are appreciative to see this momentum continue with the introduction of a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization package.
“As our country continues to recover from a devastating pandemic, federal infrastructure investment will put Americans back to work and keep our economy competitive on the world stage. This robust surface transportation reauthorization package invests $303.5 billion over five years into highway, road and bridge networks. This is a needed 34% increase in federal funding over the last surface transportation reauthorization, the FAST ACT, which passed Congress in 2015. We thank the Committee for listening to stakeholder input as this important legislation incorporates essential policies for our industry such as codifying the “One Federal Decision” as well as provides increased flexibility for state Departments of Transportation with their federal funds.
“We are excited to work with all EPW Committee Members as this bill heads to markup this week and we encourage the other committees of jurisdiction to pass their titles quickly before the current FAST Act extension expires on September 30. EPW’s introduction and quick markup of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 is a significant first step and the aggregates industry is ready to help and support this bill as it advances through Congress,” Stanley concluded.