The Capitol Line

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill Takes a Back Seat

With the fast approaching expiration date for America’s outdated transportation laws, the House has cleared the three-month funding extension of the current surface transportation programs beyond their scheduled September 30 expiration (H.R. 3617) on a 335-85 vote. AISI, on behalf of its U.S. members, had sent a letter to the House Steel Caucus urging passage of the three-month extension. Seen as a stop-gap measure to allow for current continuous debate on healthcare, the fight now heads to the Senate with a new proposed deadline of December 31.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders have introduced a six-year, $500 billion bipartisan bill framework for highway and public transit construction, repair and safety, but have failed to include a plan to finance this investment. Legislation was thus slowed by the Senate and the White House, reluctant to take up another massive spending bill that may require a tax increase of its own during a time when people are talking about $1 trillion in spending for health care.

Senate Democratic leaders, backed by the White House and House Republicans, are expected to push for an 18-month extension that would give lawmakers until March 2011 to work on the new bill. However, once lawmakers decide when they will move forward with the sweeping overhauls they promise, they will then need to find a way to pay for it, and once that difficult task is accomplished, the debate will only grow more complicated. This approach does little more than delay the critical reforms and difficult choices that must be made now.

AISI strongly supports the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 and will continue to advocate for a quick timeline and robust funding level. In order to continue to be a global leader, the U.S. must upgrade its crumbling infrastructure. The steel industry supports providing an adequate level of funding in the reauthorization for all federal infrastructure needs (highways, waterways, rail, aviation, and pipelines) to ensure the U.S. has an effective and efficient infrastructure system.

Providing federal funds for infrastructure projects provides jobs and revenue to state and local communities, and has a positive impact on a wide array of individuals from steel producers, to suppliers, to manufacturers of goods, all which will aid in the recovery of our national economy.

For more information on AISI's positioin, click here.

A Friendly Wind Blows Towards Steel

The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009 (H.R. 3165), a bill that would create a program to improve the efficiency, reliability and cost effectiveness of domestic wind energy systems. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY 21) and passed with bipartisan support in a voice vote.

The bill provides $2 million a year from 2010 through 2014 for the research and development program to improve the energy efficiency, reliability and capacity of wind turbines as well as optimize the design and reduce the costs of wind energy systems. The program focuses on new materials and designs to make larger, lighter rotor blades, advanced generators to improve efficiency of converting to electric power, and creation of low-cost transportable towers for high-elevation areas.

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