NSSGA offers support for the Grow America Act

NSSGA has offered its support of the Grow America Act, a $302 billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization bill U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx unveiled April 29.

“We welcome the administration’s involvement in the reauthorization debate through introduction of a multi-year reauthorization bill,” says NSSGA Chairman Paul I. Detwiler III, president and CEO of New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc. “It is essential that Congress act now to address the funding crisis facing the Highway Trust Fund and then move to pass a multi-year reauthorization bill before expiration of the current law on Sept. 30.”

The Grow America Act is based on the plan President Barack Obama announced February to address the nation’s infrastructure deficit.

The proposed surface transportation reauthorization bill will provide $87 billion to address the Highway Trust Fund shortfall and increase safety and efficiency, according to DOT. It says the bill also will
• create millions of new jobs to ensure America’s competitiveness,
• increase safety across all modes of surface transportation,
• provide certainty to state and local governments that must engage in long-term planning,
• reduce the permitting and environmental review processes,
• bolster efficient and reliable freight networks to support trade and economic growth and
• create incentives to better align planning and investment decisions to comprehensively address regional economic needs while strengthening local decision-making.

NSSGA President and CEO Mike Johnson commended Foxx and the Obama administration for coming forward with a multi-year reauthorization bill.

“Funding to stabilize and provide future solvency to the Highway Trust Fund is essential,” Johnson says. “The provisions intended to further expedite permitting of projects and environmental reviews will also assist in moving forward many needed projects.“

The bill will rely on President Obama’s proposed pro-growth business tax reforms, a funding method that concerns Johnson.

“While we support tax reform, it seems unlikely that Congress will be able to pass major tax legislation before the end of the year,” he says. “There is broad agreement that an efficient and cost-effective surface transportation program is essential to economic growth, job creation and preserving America’s global competitiveness. The clock is ticking. Congress, working on a bipartisan basis, should meet with the administration to deal with this pressing issue now.”