February 1, 2001

The Honorable Andrew Card
Chief of Staff
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Card:

Congratulations on your appointment as Chief of Staff for President Bush. We wish you and the President the very best as you tackle the many challenges ahead. Of course, we are particularly pleased that someone with such an in depth understanding of transportation issues as you will be working so closely with the President.

On behalf of the many thousands of members represented by the organizations below, we respectfully request that in the FY 2002 US Department of Transportation budget proposal the President recommend fully funding the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA 21), including provisions that guarantee funding for surface transportation programs. Each year, Congress has honored those statutory guarantees, including the revenue aligned budget authority adjustment that captures increased motor fuel tax collections. That was the clear congressional intent when the landmark TEA 21 legislation was passed and signed into law. We believe that recommending full funding for TEA 21 in the FY 2002 Bush Administration budget would signal a strong commitment to addressing the nation’s surface transportation needs.

We strongly believe that increased federal investment in our transportation system is essential to preserve a healthy economy and a transportation system that facilitates the efficient and safe movement of people, goods, and services. The demands on all elements of our transportation system continue to grow steadily, making it imperative that the federal government in concert with state and local governments and the private sector address the new demands on that system. We should note that spending on transportation capital projects produces millions of jobs throughout the economy.

We appreciate your consideration, and we offer our collective assistance as you work with Congress in the year ahead. We look forward to working with you and the entire Bush Administration.

Sincerely yours,

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Coal Ash Association
American Concrete Pavement Association
American Concrete Pipe Association
American Consulting Engineers Council
American Portland Cement Alliance
American Public Transportation Association
American Road and Transportation Builders Association
American Traffic Safety Services Association
Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association
Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association
Associated General Contractors of America
Construction Industry Manufacturers Association
Equipment Manufacturers Institute
International Union of Operating Engineers
National Asphalt Pavement Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Utility Contractors Association
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

cc: The Honorable Mitch Daniels
The Honorable Norm Mineta
The Honorable Don Young
The Honorable James Oberstar
The Honorable Bob Smith
The Honorable Harry Reid
The Honorable Phil Gramm
The Honorable Paul Sarbanes

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Suite 1100, 1666 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: (202) 496-4800