[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?

                          ____________________