NUCA Attends Bipartisan Transportation Meeting

Before Congress headed home to campaign, NUCA attended a briefing and panel discussion on Capitol Hill by the Bipartisan Policy Center's National Transportation Policy Project (NTPP) titled "Transitioning to a Performance-Based Federal Transportation Policy." Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, discussed the challenges that will be addressed in the next highway reauthorization bill, noting that the time to complete projects must be streamlined to lower costs and reduce project completion time.

In March, 25 leaders met at a five-day NTPP workshop to determine how the U.S. can effectively move federal transportation policy toward a more performance-driven network. The current federal transportation program is considered to have limited accountability for results and no broad national goals. Many transportation experts acknowledge that transition to a performance-based highway program holds the best promise for optimizing use of existing and future resources. Two core areas of agreement from the workshop were outlined at the briefing: 1) the need for federal performance measures and 2) incentivizing performance. Specifically, panelists at the briefing suggested metrics are needed for the nation to have well defined transportation goals, and steps should be taken to link funding to performance in the next highway reauthorization bill.

Rural America Solutions Group on "Jobs-Killing EPA Regulations"

NUCA recently attended a forum hosted by the Rural America Solutions Group in the Capitol Visitor Center on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and other initiatives that are hindering job creation and economic expansion in America's rural communities. The forum, titled "The EPA's Assault on Rural America: How New Regulations and Proposed Legislation are Stifling Job Creation and Economic Growth," included a panel discussion on a range of EPA proposals and related legislation, including legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

Additionally, EPA plans to issue total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements for the Chesapeake Bay by the end of this year. This is intended to be a blueprint for similar plans in other watersheds throughout the country. "Proposed rules and bills that impose the federal government's reach on mud puddles, irrigation canals and driveways have left some wondering whether the EPA really stands for Eliminate Private Agriculture," said Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), co-chair of the Rural American Solutions Group. "It's time for EPA to ease its iron grip on rural America and start to listen to those who would be impacted." NUCA continues to monitor the group's activities and will work with likeminded organizations to address these issues.

Senate Banking Committee Talks Infrastructure and Job Creation

As reported last month, the president is pushing yet another economic recovery proposal by providing significant funding for America's surface transportation infrastructure. The plan includes $50 billion in funding for highways, railroads, transit and airports, and would create an infrastructure "bank." To further investigate the concept of a national infrastructure bank, the Senate Banking Committee recently held a hearing entitled "Investing in Infrastructure: Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy." Witnesses included representatives from the Department of Transportation and Department of Treasury, and Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Penn.), as well as transportation industry representatives. After noting the importance of the Interstate Highway System developed under the Eisenhower Administration, Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) went further, noting that "Eisenhower's initiative was broad in scope, and bold in conception. It built upon over a century of investments in our railroads, ports, water and sewer systems, and other infrastructure. These investments helped build the world's strongest economy." Gov. Rendell discussed several funding options that should be considered, including two bond initiatives high on NUCA's legislative agenda. According to Rendell, Congress must "ensure that the Bank has the authority to employ a range of finance and funding tools including, but not limited to: grants, credit assistance, low interest loans, tax incentives, Build America Bonds, Private Activity Bonds... and others to be determined." NUCA continues to support the concept of a National Infrastructure Bank, and we believe it should be funded by any and all viable financing alternatives. This is sure to be a big issue next year, when the 112^th Congress convenes and infrastructure investment will again be a hot topic.