Missouri Senator Chastises Colleagues Over Lack of Long-Term Highway Funding

On Tuesday, May 5, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on "Surface Transportation Reauthorization: The Importance of a Long-Term Reauthorization." The hearing marks the third in a series on surface transportation reauthorization priorities for the committee. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) expressed her disappointment with her fellow colleagues at the hearing; stating that while they supported the enactment of a multi-year surface transportation bill they lacked the political will to actually get it done. She focused on the fact that there is still no bill from the House or Senate with the May 31 deadline fast approaching. McCaskill ended her rant by urging her colleagues to take on the challenge of passing a long-term, fully funded bill.

Congress only has weeks to act before highway funding is shut down; debate over how long to extend the program is holding up the process. NRMCA has urged members of Congress to pass a long-term extension instead of a temporary patch in order to get the industry through the primary construction season. NRMCA has also joined members of the Highways Materials Group in sending a letter to House and Senate leadership this week that urges them to act on a long-term bill. In addition to NRMCA, groupl members include the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the American Concrete Pavement Association, the Portland Cement Association, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Associated Equipment Distributors and the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute.