The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee this week held a series of field hearings and “listening sessions” to discuss reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation systems. While several of the sessions were cancelled due to the longer-than-anticipated debate of the FY 2011 continuing resolution (see related story above), sessions in Columbus, OH, Fresno, CA, Vancouver, WA and other cities went ahead as scheduled.
Discussion in Columbus centered around new ideas for addressing the nation’s transportation documented needs, including prioritizing projects, streamlining requirements, increasing federal match, allowing earmarks for infrastructure projects, and eliminating or reducing Federal oversight of local projects.
In Vancouver, the debate got a little contentious after a number of speakers focused on a local bridge and Chairman John Mica (R-FL) repeatedly asked speakers to refrain from discussing individual projects that would require earmarks.
More details on each event can be found on the Committee’s website.
As ASCE learns of future field hearings and listening sessions, we will notify Key Contacts through your local Section and Branch leadership.
Meanwhile, House leaders have indicated that a bill to extend SAFETEA-LU through September 30, 2011 will be voted on next week. The longer extension (H.R. 662) allows Congress ample time to draft and pass a new surface transportation authorization in the meantime. Without the extension, funding for surface transportation programs would expire on March 4.
ASCE has been contacting offices asking for their support of the extension. Key Contacts should look forward to a Key Alert on Monday regarding H.R. 662.
T&I Chairman John Mica (R-FL) hopes to start moving a new surface transportation authorization by March.