U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Key Vote Alert! - Broun Motion to Instruct Transportation Conferees
June 5, 2012
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region strongly opposes the Motion to Instruct the House Conferees on H.R. 4348, the “Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II,” expected to offered by Rep. Broun, which would slash funding for highways, transit, and safety programs.
By limiting funding to levels that can be supported only by the Highway Trust Fund, the Broun Motion to Instruct would cause cuts upwards of 30 percent to federal highway, transit, and safety programs in 2013. Not only do these programs directly support hundreds of thousands of jobs around the country, they provide for long-term investments that facilitate the movement of goods and services, and spur economic development. Cuts of this magnitude would eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs, would curb critical safety programs, and would cause a substantial portion of transportation projects to be shelved.
Furthermore, these cuts would have a real and profound impact on federal safety programs. In many cases, this funding serves as the sole source for state programs that reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries, monitor and regulate the safe movement of hazardous materials and the shipment of millions of tons of truck freight annually. At a time of anemic U.S. economic growth and increasing competitive pressures, long-term highway and transit reform and investment is critical for boosting productivity, U.S. economic competitiveness and job growth – but it must be supported by adequate funding levels. Instead of advancing draconian cuts to transportation programs, Congress should instead advance smart reforms that maximize every federal dollar spent and work to establish a long-term revenue solution for the programs.
Passing transportation reauthorization legislation is a concrete step Congress and the Administration can take right now to support job growth and economic productivity without adding to the deficit. The Chamber strongly opposes the Broun Motion to Instruct Conferees and urges you to vote against this effort to slash funding for highways, transit, and safety programs. The Chamber may consider including votes on, or in relation to, the Broun Motion to Instruct in our annual How They Voted scorecard.
Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten
