With only 80 days remaining until the expiration of the latest highway and transit authorization extension, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is kicking off a comprehensive grassroots and communications campaign to ensure Congress takes action on a reauthorization bill before March 31.
The campaign, called Make Transportation JOB #1, will help continue to build momentum for passage of a reauthorization bill. The time to engage your member of Congress is now. Both the House and Senate are in positions to move their respective bills but they need to be encouraged to act now.
The Senate Environment and Public Works and Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees have passed their portions of the Senate reauthorization bill, while the Banking and Finance Committees have yet to take action. Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated that passing a reauthorization bill will be a top priority for the Senate when they return from their winter break. The same can be said in the House where Speaker John Boehner has pledged to take action the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that will link transportation authorization with expanded energy production. The Speaker’s commitment coupled with a positive status update provided to AGC highway chapters this week by House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee staff are encouraging signs that a bill could be voted on in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks.
Over the next several weeks AGC chapters, members and business colleagues will be asked to:
1. Send letters to your Representatives and Senators;
2. Sign a petition expressing your support for passing a highway and transit bill; and
3. Use a complete grassroots toolkit—available on the AGC website—with sample letters to the editor and guidance about arranging effective meetings with your Representatives and Senators.
For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at 202.547.8892; e-mail: [email protected], or Brian Deery at 703.837.5319; e-mail: [email protected].
