ON THE HORIZON


BUDGET Continued from page 7


investments in key areas; $40 billion of which will be directed towards “Fix It First” investments to improve our transportation system. Critical highway infrastructure will be


allotted $25 billion; $9 billion for critical transit infrastructure improvements; $2 billion for cross-border transportation; $4 billion for transportation infrastructure grants and financing; $2 billion for current passenger rail services; $2 billion in grants-in-aid for airports;


$2 billion for transportation leadership awards; $3 billion for the rail service improvement program and $1 billion to advanceNextgen. The budget also includes $2.4 billion for


theHighway Safety Improvement Program; $21.9 billion for theNationalHighway Performance Program; $10.1 billion for the Surface Transportation Program and $1 billion for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. TheHouse Transportation and


Infrastructure Committee put together a panel to give freight a more prominent voice in deliberations over the next surface


transportation bill. One of the members is U.S. Congressman Steve Daines, a Republican representing Montana’s first congressional district. The panel will hold hearings around


the country over the next six months to examine the state of freight transportation and come up with legislative suggestions for improving it. “How best to fund and finance the freight


transportation system over the long term is an overarching and critical question facing this panel,” said Rep. JerroldNadler (D-N.Y.). “We need the vision, the plan, and the means to address this nation’s goods movement needs and strengthen our economic competitiveness.” During its inaugural session on April 24,


Fred Smith, the founder and CEO of FedEx Corp., warned that theU.S. will lose its global competitive edge unless it modernizes its infrastructure. For highways, the key will be a stronger


funding mechanism — a higher fuel tax or perhaps a vehicle mile tax, he said. Derek Leathers, president and COO of


Werner Enterprises, reminded the panel that American Trucking Associations supports raising and indexing federal fuel taxes to pay for infrastructure reinvestment. “This is the most efficient and least harmful


way to prevent a catastrophic collapse of the federal-aid highway program,” he said in his statement. But we are still in an era of ‘no new taxes’


as EdWytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, pointed out citing a recentGallup poll which showed little public support for raising the fuel tax. “It is time for our political leaders to tell the


truth to Americans and businesses: unless we increase revenues flowing into the collapsing Highway Trust Fund — yes by raising the federal fuel user fee — our highways, bridges and public transit systems will fail us and our economy will crater,” he said. “We are failing to paint an honest picture


for the American people on the severe impact to our economy of continuing to neglect our severely aging infrastructure.” The suggestions will be considered as the


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committee prepares the next bill, due when the current program expires in October 2014. House Transportation Committee


Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) says they have to consider all means of a permanent funding solution. “We’re not ruling anything in or out. “Anything that makes sense we want to take a look at.” RW


14 ROADWISE | ISSUE 3, 2013 | www.mttrucking.org


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