March 18, 2020 – Congressional leaders and White House officials began work on a massive coronavirus relief bill that could contain major economic stimulus for corporations and consumers. Could it take a pandemic such as coronavirus/COVID-19 to finally get an infrastructure bill passed? On a House Democratic conference call, House committee chairs discussed ideas including: cash payments to individuals; infrastructure investments;…
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House Leaders Propose $760 Billion Infrastructure Bill
Congressional Democrats and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) are proposing a $760 billion, five-year infrastructure spending bill that aims to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, while reducing carbon pollution.
Read MoreHighways With a THUD
July 1, 2019 – The House of Representatives last week passed a major spending package, HR3055, containing $87.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations for Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD). This “minibus” package – composed of four other appropriations bills in addition to THUD – was the second of three packages considered by the House for FY 2020, and passed the chamber…
Read MoreNew Infrastructure Ad Campaign Targets Key Lawmakers
The transportation construction industry and business community are launching an ad campaign on two fronts this summer to keep pressure on Congress and the Trump administration for action in 2019 on a permanent Highway Trust Fund (HTF) fix and a new transportation infrastructure package.
Read MoreBring Congress to Your Quarry This Summer
May 28, 2019 – Want to do your part to advance infrastructure funding? The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association says bring Congress to your quarry this summer. Not only do quarry tours offer your representatives media exposure and quality time with their constituents, but you gain the opportunity to discuss important issues one-on-one with your representatives. Any operation willing to plan…
Read MoreBlumenauer Seeks Five-Cent Gas Tax Increase
May 22, 2019 – Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Trade, introduced a bill which would, according to Politico, raise the federal user fee on gasoline by five cents a year over five years. Blumenauer, a featured speaker at the Highway Materials Group’s recent Infrastructure Week press conference, introduced the legislation one day…
Read MoreCongress Introduces Clean Water State Revolving Fund Legislation
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is a federal infrastructure program that provides low-interest loans to states – requiring a 20 percent state match – for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure improvements.
Read MoreInfrastructure Talks Rumored
April 12, 2019 – Democratic leaders in Congress said they would seek President Donald Trump’s support in coming weeks for legislation to invest up to $2 trillion to rebuild U.S. infrastructure, including roads, bridges and schools. This episode of one-upmanship follows Trump’s long-standing line about $1 trillion in spending. Anyone want to propose $3 trillion? The problem is, everybody wants to…
Read MoreCongress Looks at Innovation in Surface Transportation
The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Highways and Transit heard from transportation industry representatives during a Sept. 5 hearing about new and exciting developments related to autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, intelligent transportation systems and mobility on demand technologies, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA).
Read MoreMSHA Chief Outlines Priorities to Congress
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Administrator David Zatezalo outlined priorities for the agency during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on Feb. 6. “Safety remains a major priority for this committee,” said Chairman Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) “We ask so much of these hardworking Americans, and vital policies are in place to provide them with the safest…
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