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                                                                                                                                                          Second Quarter 2002

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

 

 

Save the Date!
Sept. 24, 2002
Highway Users Seminar

"Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Transportation Challenges Facing State and Local Decision Makers" is a seminar that will be hosted by The Highway Users on Tuesday, Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C. The seminar will be held at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza at 14th and K Streets in Washington, D.C.

National, state and local officials have been invited to participate in panels that include: "Money: Will There Be Enough? How Can We Get More? Who Should Control It?"; "Setting Transportation Priorities"; "Improving Transportation Performance." An impressive group of leading authorities have accepted positions on the panels.

More details will be announced via email in the next few weeks. Registration fees are being finalized now. Sign up early for discounted fees.


American Highway Users Alliance

The united voice of the transportation community on highway safety and mobility.

A nonprofit advocacy organization representing nearly 350 national trade associations, corporations, small businesses, and state and local nonprofit organizations that represent over 45 million highway users.

1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.857.1200       fax 202.857.1220
www.highways.org
© Copyright 2002

Federal Officials Address Upcoming TEA21 Reauthorization

Senate Finance Cmte. Chairman Max Baucus

Maintaining the budgetary firewalls in TEA21, streamlining the environmental review process and increasing states' roles in funding issues were just a few of the topics that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus discussed at The Highway Users Executive Committee dinner on May 7, 2002. Baucus said he will preserve the current TEA21 formula.

Specifically, Baucus outlined his plans for TEA21 reauthorization and his desire to link his role specifically to the reauthorization process. With growing recognition of the need for a funding mechanism beyond motor fuel user fees, the role of the Finance Committee is expected to grow in shaping highway policy. He also said that he is drafting a TEA21 bill that includes environmental streamlining and a focus on highways. He urged the highway community to be active and visible on the Hill during development of the new legislation.

Separately, at The Highway Users Executive Committee meeting on May 8, Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson discussed TEA21 and transportation in further detail. Jackson noted that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is now moving beyond the security issues that had been its focus since September 11. He said that the Bush administration supported restoring the $4.4 billion in highway investments due to the negative revenue aligned budget authority (RABA).



Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson

Specifically, Jackson stated that the DOT would focus on developing an adequate and predictable funding effort and creating a mechanism to provide greater funding flexibility to governors without losing program focus. He also stated that the agency would emphasize intermodalism with a focus on freight issues, innovative financing and security. Jackson also maintained that DOT would be seeking to develop a method for identifying a series of transportation projects of national significance. He urged The Highway Users to play an active role in the legislative process and in helping to develop new policy. In closing, Jackson noted that the DOT was in the process of reshaping its policy process.