Page 30 - ATR 2 2013

BUDGET, The budget also includes $2.4 Derek Leathers, president and
Continued from page 23 billion for the Highway Safety COO of Werner Enterprises, reminded
Improvement Program; $21.9 billion the panel that American Trucking
“The backbone of our economy is for the National Highway Performance Associations supports raising and index-
the asphalt, steel and concrete of our Program; $10.1 billion for the Surface ing federal fuel taxes to pay for infra-
roads and bridges and proposals to fund Transportation Program and $1 billion structure reinvestment.
those roads should be equally concrete,” for the Transportation Infrastructure “This is the most efficient and least
Bill Graves, ATA’s president and CEO Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) harmful way to prevent a catastrophic
said. “For five years, we’ve waited for program. collapse of the federal-aid highway pro-
President Obama to clearly state how The House Transportation and gram,” he said in his statement.
we should pay for these critical needs Infrastructure Committee put together But we are still in an era of ‘no
and, I’m sad to say, we continue to get a panel to give freight a more promi- new taxes’ as Ed Wytkind, president of
lip service about the importance of nent voice in deliberations over the the Transportation Trades Department
roads and bridges with no real roadmap next surface transportation bill. One of of the AFL-CIO, pointed out citing a
to real funding solutions.” the members is U.S. Congressman Rick recent Gallup poll which showed little
That’s just one example of why Crawford, a Republican representing public support for raising the fuel tax.
ATA’s Graves believes the White House Arkansas’s first congressional district. “It is time for our political lead-
must craft a longer-term and sustain- The panel will hold hearings ers to tell the truth to Americans and
able funding strategy to address the around the country over the next six businesses: unless we increase revenues
many diverse needs of the U.S. trans- months to examine the state of freight flowing into the collapsing Highway
portation industry. transportation and come up with legis- Trust Fund — yes by raising the federal
Included in the budget is a $50 lative suggestions for improving it. fuel user fee — our highways, bridges
billion program to provide immediate “How best to fund and finance and public transit systems will fail us
transportation investments in key areas; the freight transportation system over and our economy will crater,” he said.

“we are failiNg to paiNt aN hoNest picture for the americaN people
oN the seVere impact to our ecoNomy of coNtiNuiNg to Neglect our
seVerely agiNg iNfrastructure.”

—coNgressmaN Jerrold Nadler (d-N.y.)

$40 billion of which will be directed the long term is an overarching and “We are failing to paint an hon-
towards “Fix It First” investments to critical question facing this panel,” said est picture for the American people on
improve our transportation system. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). “We need the severe impact to our economy of
Critical highway infrastructure the vision, the plan, and the means to continuing to neglect our severely aging
will be allotted $25 billion; $9 bil- address this nation’s goods movement infrastructure.”
lion for critical transit infrastructure needs and strengthen our economic The suggestions will be considered
improvements; $2 billion for cross- competitiveness.” as the committee prepares the next bill,
border transportation; $4 billion for During its inaugural session on due when the current program expires
transportation infrastructure grants April 24, Fred Smith, the founder and in October 2014.
and financing; $2 billion for current CEO of FedEx Corp., warned that the House Transportation Committee
passenger rail services; $2 billion in U.S. will lose its global competitive edge Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) says they
grants-in-aid for airports; $2 billion for unless it modernizes its infrastructure. have to consider all means of a perma-
transportation leadership awards; $3 For highways, the key will be a nent funding solution. “We’re not rul-
billion for the rail service improvement stronger funding mechanism — a higher ing anything in or out. “Anything that
program and $1 billion to advance fuel tax or perhaps a vehicle mile tax, makes sense we want to take a look at.”
Nextgen. he said.

30 arkansas Trucking rePorT | issue 2 2013