Keep WV Moving

Federal funding for highways and bridges is vitally important in order for our nation to continue expanding and rebuilding its vast transportation infrastructure and to keep millions of constructions workers on the job. However, Congress needs to come up with immediate answers as to how it will continue federal funding of the nation's highway program.
 
To provide for a short-term solution, Senate Democratic leaders announced in early February that they plan to move forward with a series of  "jobs bills," as opposed to one large measure like their U.S. House counterparts did. One of the first of these measures would provide for an extension of the federal highway and transit programs through Dec. 31, 2010. This would help to keep core federal highway projects moving and investment flowing throughout this year.
 
The highway and transit programs have been operating under a series of short-term extensions since the current six-year federal highway authorization law (SAFETEA-LU) expired at the end of September 2009. These interim measures have distributed surface transportation funds in piecemeal fashion and at a reduced allotment of spending authority (contract authority) than was provided to states in fiscal year 2009. This situation has imposed further complications and uncertainty on state transportation programs that are already facing major challenges.
 
The Senate's Surface Transportation Program Extension Proposal would do the following:
-Extend the authorization for the highway, transit and safety programs at the 2009 investment levels though December 31, 2010.
-Credit the federal Highway Trust Fund with $19.8 billion in foregone revenue due to the fund's interest earnings being deposited in the federal General Fund since 1998. These resources will ensure the trust fund can meet its obligations through the end of 2010.
-Shift the cost of motor fuel tax exemptions for state and local governments to the federal General Fund. This would generate an estimated $1.5 billion in new annual revenue for the Highway Trust Fund.
-Restore lost contract (spending) authority from the $8.7 billion rescission SAFETEA-LU required on September 30, 2009.
The delayed highway/transit program reauthorization has created major uncertainty for state transportation programs. And, this uncertainty is diluting the impact of the Recovery Act's transportation investments and helping drive the disproportionate level of unemployment in the transportation construction industry.
 
The proposed extension and its provisions to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund will provide the continuity necessary to help maximize employment and economic activity from the 2010 construction season. West Virginia relies heavily on federal highway funding, and resolving the funding issues will help keep many key projects moving and many workers on the job.
 
Keeping West Virginia moving and keeping West Virginians working are two key objectives of West Virginians for Better Transportation.
 
On behalf of the nearly 300 organizations, companies and government officials that comprise the WVBT coalition, I urge the U.S. Senate to support the highway/transit program extension and allow this critical legislation to move forward.
 
Deneault is chairman of West Virginians for Better Transportation, keepwvmoving.org.