November 14, 2019
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader, United States Senate
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer, Democratic Leader, United States Senate
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Republican Leader, United States House of Representatives
Subject: Repealing the $7.6 billion FAST Act Rescission of Highway Contract Authority by End of 2019
Dear Congressional Leaders:
The undersigned group of diverse national associations that support investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure is writing once again to urge Congress to repeal—by the end of this calendar year—the impending $7.6 billion rescission of highway contract authority scheduled for July 1, 2020, under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. We ask for this action immediately as part of any moving legislation, including FY 2020 appropriations, the National Defense Authorization Act, or another year-end vehicle.
According to Federal Highway Administration information released November 4 (see Appendix), states held $5.4 billion in highway dollars subject to the rescission at the end of FY 2019. Yet because Section 1438 of the FAST Act calls for a cut of $7.6 billion, without repealing this provision, states will face an additional $2.2 billion reduction in highway contract authority next summer.
It is especially critical to repeal this provision during the current calendar year because in the worst-case scenario, states may be forced to deobligate existing projects in order to provide the necessary amount of contract authority to be rescinded. If this happens next spring or summer at the peak of the construction season, the effect would be especially devastating.
Furthermore, the lack of funding flexibility resulting from the rescission will severely undermine states’ asset management efforts which are intended to meet key national performance targets on safety, pavement, bridge, freight movement, congestion, emissions, and overall system performance.
If you would like to discuss further, please contact Joung Lee, AASHTO’s Policy Director.
Signatories:
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Automobile Association
American Concrete Pavement Association
American Concrete Pipe Association
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Highway Users Alliance
American Iron and Steel Institute
American Public Transportation Association
American Public Works Association
American Road and Transportation Builders Association
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Traffic Safety Services Association
American Trucking Associations
Associated Equipment Distributors
Associated General Contractors of America
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
Coalition of Northeastern Governors
Governors Highway Safety Association
Institute of Transportation Engineers
Intelligent Transportation Society of America
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
International Slurry Surfacing Association
Laborers International Union of North America
League of American Bicyclists
National Asphalt Pavement Association
National Association of Counties
National Association of County Engineers
National Association of Regional Councils
National Conference of State Legislatures
National Governors Association
National League of Cities
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Steel Bridge Alliance
National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association
National Utility Contractors Association
Portland Cement Association
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
United States Chamber of Commerce
United States Conference of Mayors
cc:
The Honorable Richard Shelby, Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy, Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Susan Collins, Chair, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
The Honorable Jack Reed, Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
The Honorable James Inhofe, Chair, Senate Armed Services Committee
The Honorable Jack Reed, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee
The Honorable Mike Enzi, Chair, Senate Budget Committee
The Honorable Bernie Sanders, Ranking Member, Senate Budget Committee
The Honorable John Barrasso, Chair, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
The Honorable Thomas R. Carper, Ranking Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, Chair, Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The Honorable Ben Cardin, Ranking Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The Honorable Nita M. Lowey, Chair, House Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Kay Granger, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee
The Honorable David E. Price, Chair, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
The Honorable Adam Smith, Chair, House Armed Services Committee
The Honorable Mac Thornberry, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee
The Honorable John Yarmuth, Chair, House Budget Committee
The Honorable Steve Womack, Ranking Member, House Budget Committee
The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio, Chair, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
The Honorable Sam Graves, Ranking Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chair, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
The Honorable Rodney Davis, Ranking Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
