[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1202-S1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2011
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 662, the surface
transportation extension bill; that the bill be read three times and
the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the bill; and that the
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with
no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 662) to provide an extension of Federal-aid
highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and
other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending
enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs.
Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I am so pleased the Senate has passed
H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011. This
legislation provides a clean extension of Federal surface
transportation programs through the end of the fiscal year.
H.R. 662 was passed by the House of Representatives yesterday by an
overwhelming bipartisan vote of 421-4. This legislation had previously
been approved by voice vote in the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee.
Under this extension, States will receive $23.1 billion for the
remainder of fiscal year 2011. This equates to over 800,000 jobs
nationwide that would be created or saved.
As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I
am working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and both sides
of the Capitol to move forward on a transportation authorization that
will put people to work, bring our Nation's highways, bridges, and
transit systems up to a state of good repair, and reduce congestion and
its impacts on commerce and communities.
The committee is planning to markup a new authorization by spring.
However, this extension is necessary in order to give Congress time to
enact this authorization.
I have letters from several organizations who urged Congress to pass
H.R. 662. These letters were signed by AAA; American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials, AASHTO; American Bus
Association; American Highway Users Alliance; American Motorcyclist
Association; Americans for Transportation Mobility, which includes 12
organizations; American Trucking Associations; Owner-Operator
Independent Drivers Association; and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
This broad and diverse coalition composed of businesses, workers, and
users of the highways, recognized the need to enact this legislation
today.
Investments in transportation infrastructure are an important part of
the solution to the serious economic challenges we are facing. This is
especially true in the construction industry, which has been hit hard
by the economic downturn. According to January data released by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry has an
unemployment rate of over 22 percent.
Not only will this extension of SAFETEA-LU save jobs in the short
term, an extension through the end of the fiscal year will provide the
opportunity for Congress to enact a new surface transportation bill.
I am so pleased that my colleagues did the right thing and approved
this legislation that will save hundreds of thousands of jobs, improve
our nation's infrastructure, and provide a solid foundation for
economic recovery.
I ask unanimous consent that several letters be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
February 28, 2011.
Hon. Gary L. Ackerman,
House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Ackerman: Our organizations represent
drivers, riders, and businesses that pay the federal highway
user fees that fund the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). One of our
top goals is to ensure that user fees are properly dedicated
to federal programs that improve our nation's highway safety
and mobility.
This year, Congress is expected to consider a major long-
term transportation bill that will reform and streamline
federal highway
[[Page S1203]]
programs, adopt new performance standards, and take steps to
ensure that users of the system see real value and benefit
for their investment. We look forward to working with you on
this critical legislation over the course of the year.
In the interim, Congress must pass an extension of the
existing authorization act, SAFETEA-LU. Congressmen Mica,
Rahall, Duncan, DeFazio, and Hanna, have introduced H.R. 662,
the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, which
extends current highway funding through the end of the fiscal
year. Two weeks ago, the bill was reported out of the House
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee by unanimous voice
vote.
We hope that H.R. 662 will pass unanimously and we ask for
your strong support when it is considered this week. The
extension does not include any funding for earmarks and is
consistent with the highway spending level proposed in the
Continuing Resolution. Moreover, the Highway Trust Fund has
more than enough revenue to fully fund this extension of
authority. After H.R. 662 is enacted, the continuing
resolution on appropriations will continue to set a spending
limit on the various authorized accounts.
Failure to enact H.R. 662 would create more problems than
simply a shutdown of government agencies. It would also halt
highway projects from coast-to-coast because contractors
would not be able to be reimbursed for their work. As highway
users, we'd like to see these projects completed on-time and
under budget.
Thank you for your support. If you have any questions about
H.R. 662, please do not hesitate to contact us prior to the
vote.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Darbelnet,
President and CEO, AAA.
Edward Moreland,
Senior Vice President, Government Relations, American
Motorcyclist Association.
Peter J. Pantuso,
President and CEO, American Bus Association.
Bill Graves,
President and CEO, American Trucking Associations.
Gregory M. Cohen,
President and CEO, American Highway Users Alliance.
Todd Spencer,
Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent
Drivers Association.
____
Americans for
Transportation Mobility,
Washington, DC, February 28, 2011.
To the Members of the United States Congress: The Americans
for Transportation Mobility (ATM) Coalition strongly urges
you to pass H.R. 662, the ``Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2011,'' that would extend the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA-LU) as well as expenditure authority for the
Highway Trust Fund through the end of FY2011. While the ATM
Coalition continues to support Congressional efforts to enact
a well-funded, long-term surface transportation bill, the
absence of such a bill makes this extension essential to
creating and sustaining jobs and maintaining America's
transportation infrastructure. Furthermore, this extension
provides much needed certainty for the construction industry,
states, and localities as they begin the 2011 construction
season.
SAFETEA-LU expired September 30, 2009, and has since been
operating on a series of short-term extensions--the latest of
which expires at the end of this week. The uncertainty
created by the lack of a multi-year federal commitment to
improving America's highway and public transportation
facilities is contributing to a slowdown in transportation
development activity in many states. The jobs impact of this
situation has rippled throughout the economy. Workers at
design and engineering firms, construction companies,
equipment manufacturers, and materials providers have lost
their jobs and even more positions are on the line due to
uncertainty in federal funding, at a time in which the U.S.
unemployment rate remains at record highs.
Congress must not delay in passing a robust, multi-year
highway and transit reauthorization in the 112th Congress.
While reauthorization entails a host of challenging policy
and revenue issues, this effort should be viewed as a key
opportunity to move U.S. infrastructure into the 21st
century, bolster economic recovery efforts, and improve all
Americans' way of life. If local, state, and national leaders
continue to ignore this important issue, commerce will
suffer, fatalities will rise, congestion and pollution with
grow unabated, and the United States will find itself further
and further behind its rapidly expanding international
competitors.
To help prevent further job loss and ensure vital
transportation investments continue, the ATM Coalition
strongly urges you to extend SAFETEA-LU and expenditure
authority for the Highway Trust Fund through the end of
fiscal year 2011.
Sincerely,
Americans for Transportation Mobility.
____
Chamber of Commerce
of the United States of America,
Washington, DC, February 28, 2011.
To the Members of the United States Congress: The U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation,
representing the interests of more than three million
businesses and organizations of every size, sector and
region, strongly supports H.R. 662, the ``Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2011.''
The Chamber recognizes that Congress needs time to
formulate a long-term reauthorization of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU reauthorization). At the same
time, the 2011 construction season is imminent and
unemployment in the construction sector is at a staggering
22.5 percent. States, localities, and other project sponsors
need clarity now regarding the federal funding commitments
for this construction season.
An extension shorter than the remainder of the fiscal year
would delay the job-creating capacity, safety, and
connectivity projects that are needed to address the
transportation challenges that cost our economy in wasted
fuel, lost productivity, and delayed shipments of
manufacturing inputs, consumer goods, and other items
critical to the underlying growth of our businesses.
The Chamber urges Congress to approve H.R. 662 so that
agencies and project sponsors can provide highway and public
transportation investments during the 2011 construction
season that contribute to much-needed economic growth, and
support the backbone of business supply chains.
Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten,
Executive Vice President,
Government Affairs.
____
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials,
Washington, DC.
To the Members of the United States Congress: The American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) supports passage of H.R. 662, the ``Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2011,'' that would extend the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) as well as expenditure
authority for the Highway Trust Fund through the end of FY
2011. While AASHTO continues to support Congressional efforts
to enact a well-funded, long-term surface transportation
bill, the absence of such a bill makes this extension
essential to creating and sustaining jobs and maintaining
America's transportation infrastructure. Furthermore, this
extension provides much needed certainty for the construction
industry, states, and localities as they begin the 2011
construction season.
SAFETEA-LU expired September 30, 2009, and has since been
operating on a series of short-term extensions--the latest of
which expires at the end of this week. The uncertainty
created by the lack of a multi-year federal commitment to
improving America's highway and public transportation
facilities will contribute to a slowdown in transportation
development activity in many states. The jobs impact of this
situation has rippled throughout the economy. Workers at
design and engineering firms, construction companies,
equipment manufacturers, and materials providers have lost
their jobs and even more positions are on the line due to
uncertainty in federal funding, at a time in which the U.S.
unemployment rate remains at record highs.
Congress must not delay in passing a robust, multi-year
highway and transit reauthorization in the 112th Congress.
While reauthorization entails a host of challenging policy
and revenue issues, this effort should be viewed as a key
opportunity to move U.S. infrastructure into the 21st
century, bolster economic recovery efforts, and improve all
Americans' way of life. If local, state, and national leaders
continue to ignore this important issue, commerce will
suffer, fatalities will rise, congestion and pollution with
grow unabated, and the United States will find itself further
and further behind its rapidly expanding international
competitors.
To help prevent further job loss and ensure vital
transportation investments continue, AASHTO strongly urges
you to extend SAFETEA-LU and expenditure authority for the
Highway Trust Fund through the end of fiscal year 2011.
Sincerely,
John Horsley,
Executive Director.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the third reading and
passage of the bill.
The bill (H.R. 662) was ordered to a third reading, was read the
third time, and passed.
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move
to lay that motion on the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. LEAHY. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
[[Page S1204]]
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, what is the pending business?
____________________