US Chamber Applauds Senate Passage of Highway and Transit Bill

Calls on the House to Move Swiftly to Pass Companion Legislation to Avoid a Shutdown of Highway and Transit Programs When Current Law Expires

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, Bruce Josten, issued the following statement today applauding Senate passage of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (S.1813), or MAP-21, the bi-partisan legislation reauthorizing soon-to-expire highway and transit programs.

“Passage of MAP-21 is a long-awaited victory for the business community and the American people. The legislation addresses the two essential aspects of highway and transit reauthorization. The first is maintaining, at a minimum, investment levels, without which jobs would be lost. Second, it contains badly needed policy and program reforms that we support. These program reforms will save time and money by ensuring every dollar stretches farther and projects are delivered faster.  The bill provides solutions that work for states and communities while maintaining accountability for use of federal funds to support national interests, such as interstate commerce and trade. 

“The Chamber commends the chairs and ranking members of the committees of jurisdiction for striving for a bipartisan bill. Now, it is time for the House to move swiftly to pass companion legislation so we may avoid a shutdown of highway and transit programs when SAFETEA-LU expires on March 31.

“The reforms and financing programs proposed by the House and Senate are similar, and both houses share a commitment to maintaining funding. As the Chamber has said consistently over the past five years, transportation is an economic issue—it should not be turned into a political one.

“Our members need a transportation network that can move people and goods reliably, quickly, and safely today, while being able to handle economic growth and demographic and population changes. They need a reauthorization signed by the President by March 31 -- or at least substantial progress toward completion -- so that a minimal extension of current law will be all that is required to finish the job.

“Transportation infrastructure is a core government responsibility.  It’s time the Federal government delivers the kinds of policies and programs, and the level of investment, all Americans deserve.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.