Boxer & Inhofe Urge Deficit Reduction Panel to Fully Fund Transportation

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer and Sen. James Inhofe, the committee’s ranking minority member, last week sent a letter to the co-chairs of Congress’ new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction urging them to identify long-term revenue streams to allow the federal government to invest in highway and transit infrastructure at current levels or greater.Boxer, D-California, and Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, asked in their Sept. 26 letter that the joint committee address the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

“Given the vital role that a strong infrastructure plays in the U.S. economy and job creation, Congress must, at a minimum, maintain current transportation funding levels,” Boxer and Inhofe wrote. “There is strong bipartisan support for addressing the nation’s transportation needs while resolving our debt crisis. The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force, and the Senate’s gang of six all have included provisions in their final recommendations to ensure robust long-term federal spending on transportation.”

The “super committee” to reduce the deficit was created by the Budget Control Act of 2011. The panel — chaired by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington state, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas — is charged with issuing a formal recommendation on how to reduce the deficit by at least $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.

“It is essential to fund our roads and bridges not only for jobs and businesses, but also because over 70,000 of our bridges are structurally deficient and 50% of our highway miles are in less than ‘good’ condition,” Boxer and Inhofe wrote. “Our committee has a bipartisan highway bill that, if enacted, would dramatically reform the current highway program and would do a great deal to foster short and long-term economic growth and create jobs.”

Boxer and Inhofe released an outline of a two-year surface transportation reauthorization bill in July. The $109 billion measure would maintain current funding levels, but the Senate Finance Committee has yet to determine how to generate the estimated $12 billion in extra revenue needed to pay for the legislation. (see July 22 AASHTO Journal story) Existing surface transportation authorization law expires March 31. (see Sept. 23 AASHTO Journal story)

Boxer said last Friday during a conference call with reporters that she would “absolutely” support a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill if the joint committee could find a steady stream of funding at current levels or higher.

“There is tremendous support from businesses, workers, and the American people for a transportation bill that promotes sound economic growth,” Boxer and Inhofe wrote to Murray and Hensarling. “Once again, we strongly urge that as you address the nation’s fiscal crisis, you do not neglect America’s transportation needs and the critical role transportation plays in job creation and our economic recovery.”

Boxer and Inhofe’s two-page letter is available at 1.usa.gov/BBJI092611.

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is comprised of six Democrats and six Republicans — three members of each party from the Senate and three members of each party from the House. The committee’s bipartisan recommendations must by law receive an up-or-down vote in Congress before Dec. 23. The panel’s website is available at deficitreduction.senate.gov.