Legislative Hot Issues
- Senators Boxer and Inhofe are circulating this letter supporting quick action on the highway trust fund crisis and have asked the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) and LECET for assistance in securing signatures from other Senators (June 18, 2008)
- LECET and the Clean Water Council (CWC) continue to support more robust funding for water and wastewater infrastructure in the FY ’09 appropriations process.(June 6, 2008)
- On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) sent this letter to the House and Senate supporting the transportation funding levels in the FY 2009 budget conference report.
You may also have seen this TCC print ad that ran earlier this week in conjunction with our 2008 Fly-In. You will note the ad references a TCC web site, www.transportationconstructioncoalition.org. On that site is all of the background materials used during this week’s fly-in as well as the state-by-state chart showing the impact of failing to pass the Baucus-Grassley highway trust fund fix this year. (May 27, 2008 )
- LECET and the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) submit letter to Senate to support continued highway funding and sustain construction jobs. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer has asked for our assistance in pushing for Senate approval of the SAFETEA-LU technical corrections legislation. The bill is being debated this week.(April 17, 2009)
- LECET joins the Clean Water Council (CWC) in Senate letter requesting higher funding appropriations for clean water state revolving funds (SRF)and wastewater funding programs.(March 31, 2008)
- LECET and the Clean Water Council support the National Infrastructure Bank Act (S 1926). This letter was sent to chairman Dodd's office and several committee offices.(March 12, 2008)
- Linked below
are letters LECET and the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) faxed to all senators and
House members on March 11,
2008 supporting the transportation recommendations in the
House and Senate budget resolutions. Both measures include full funding
of SAFETEA-LU and accommodate a Highway Trust Fund (HTF) fix for FY 2009.
- Letter to the House
- Letter to the Senate (March 12, 2008)
- Trade Corridor Bulletin In cooperation with the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, LECET and RAILCET are pleased to provide a Special Edition of the Trade Corridor Bulletin – focused on the release of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Final Report, Transportation for Tomorrow (February 5, 2008)
- LECET and the Clean Water Coalition announce the following:“In November 2007, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) became law. Despite the President’s veto, both the House and Senate overrode Bush’s veto by substantial margins, (House 361-54, Senate 79-14). The bill, HR 1495, provides for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors throughout the US and provide funding to states for numerous water and wastewater programs. Attached is the listing of the Water and Wastewater Projects (by state) in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act.”
- LECET joins with Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) in supporting Transportation Chairman Oberstar's proposal to upgrade deficient US bridges.
- Chairman Oberstar Announces National Bridge Plan. Initiative would create dedicated fund for bridge repair. For more information regarding bridges in your state please visit the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee website.
- West Virginia: Apprenticeship - Another Step in the Right Direction
During the 2007 West Virginia State Legislative Session, lawmakers demonstrated their support for apprenticeship training programs by enacting legislation that provides a tax credit for employers who employ apprentices registered with the United States Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. The tax credit will be in the amount of one dollar per hour, multiplied by the total number of hours worked during the tax year, not the exceed one thousand dollars or fifty percent of actual wages paid to the apprentice. Eligible employers will be able to take advantage of the apprenticeship tax credit for those tax years beginning on or after the first day of January, two thousand eight. This legislation will provide an additional advantage to those contractors who utilize the Laborers' Apprenticeship and Training Programs.
The Laborers' Apprenticeship Program was certified by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training on January 18, 1995. Today, over 150 apprentices have graduated to Journeyman status with approximately 260 apprentices active in the program.
- House
Transportation Leaders Outline Concerns over Public-Private
Partnerships
The Chairmen of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit today released a document outlining their concerns over public-private partnerships in transportation.
The position paper by Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar (Minn.), and Subcommittee Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.) expands on points made in a May 10th letter to governors, key legislators, and top transportation officials in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The position paper has been sent to all officials who received the May 10th letter.
“Under the right circumstances and conditions, public-private partnerships (“PPPs”) can lead to more efficient and effective construction, management, operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities. Where private financing is involved, PPPs can supplement—but not provide a substitute for—public investments in transportation improvements,” the paper reads.
The paper stresses that preserving the integrity of our integrated national surface transportation system and protecting the public interest is paramount when states and localities enter into such PPP agreements.
The Highways and Transit Subcommittee has held three hearings on PPPs so far this year, and will continue to study the issue as the Committee works toward reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs. The authorization sets federal transportation funding formulas for several years. It is due in 2009. - New
Jersey "Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act"
This New Jersey statute criminalizes the improper classification of construction workers as independent contractors, and provides for criminal and civil penalties for those who violate the law. New Jersey State LECET supported the bill, along with other building trades unions in the state. For more information, contact New Jersey State LECET.
-
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Introduces $20 Billion Water Infrastructure Bill
-
FY 2007 Transportation Appropriations LECET and our partners in the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) are pleased to announce that FY 2007 Continuing Resolution (CR) unveiled on 1/29/07 by House Appropriations Committee includes full-funding for the highway and transit programs. Congratulations and sincere thanks to all who helped deliver this $4 billion increase in federal surface transportation investment. We strongly urge you to make sure your members know the critical role the bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate transportation committees played in helping us beat the odds and secure the SAFETEA-LU guaranteed investment levels for FY 2007. One technical question has been raised by several TCC members. The CR also includes a $3.4 billion rescission of unobligated highway contract authority. This has been standard practice in transportation appropriations bills for the last several years, although previous rescissions have not been of this magnitude. It should be noted this rescission will not impact the guaranteed highway funding for FY 2007 and that over $24 billion in unobligated contract authority has previously been distributed to state departments of transportation. Thanks again for all of your work on this issue.
Leo J. Gannon, LECET Director of Governmental Affairs
- LECET asks for Full Funding for Transportation under SAFETEA-LU Legislation
- Safeguarding Transportation Funding in SAFETEA-LU: Jan '07
- Pennsylvania State Funding For Freight
Rail Projects The State of Pennsylvania will provide
more than $10 million for freight-rail projects in the 2006-07
fiscal year. In early March, Pennsylvania Gov. Edward
Rendell released his proposed fiscal year 2006-2007 budget,
which calls for a $2 million hike in freight-rail funding
compared with the current budget. The governor is proposing $10.5 million
for freight-rail infrastructure improvement projects. The
FY05-06 and FY04-05 budgets allocated $8.5 million and $4.25
million, respectively, for freight rail. The Pennsylvania
Department of Transportations’ Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports
and Waterways distributes the freight-rail funds, some of
which are granted to regionals and short lines.
In addition, the FY06-07 budget proposes a 2 percent increase in mass transit funding to $299.4 million.
For questions please call LECET Director of Governmental Affairs, Leo J. Gannon at (202) 783-3545, or send him a fax at (202) 347-1721.