Transportation

Background

In 1998, Congress overwhelmingly passed and the President signed into law TEA-21 to reauthorize funding for the nation's highway and transit programs. TEA-21 authorizes
$218 billion for highway, transit, research, and motor carrier programs over six years (1998 - 2003). The measure must be renewed this year, and we will be fighting to ensure that these programs are fully funded and that the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund will be maintained. TEA-21 established budgetary rules that create a "firewall" or funding guarantee which requires highway user taxes to be fully invested in their intended purpose of fixing our nation's surface transportation infrastructure. 

U.S. Chamber Position

Two key transportation (TEA-21) and aviation (AIR-21) infrastructure funding measures must be renewed this year, so we -- along with our coalition Americans for Transportation Mobility -- are mobilizing our grassroots to ensure that the nation's transportation system is fully funded and meets the business community's needs. A major focus our organizations is to ensure that the measures continue to reduce the unnecessary government red tape that delays the completion of transportation projects.
 
Similarly, we will promote full funding of the nation's waterways programs as Congress moves forward with the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act.

Recent News/Action

>> Letter of support for the Grassley-Baucus ethanol reform proposal -- Sep 15, 2003 (PDF, 70K)

>> Commentary: Relying on Our Transportation Infrastructure -- Jun 10, 2003

>> Testimony of Chamber Senior Vice President Rolf Lundberg on Comprehensive Transportation Reauthorization Proposals -- Sep 19, 2002

Updated by the U.S. Chamber's Congressional and Public Affairs division, January 2003.