The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2, known as the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan covering not only traditional transportation, but also schools, housing, drinking water, broadband, and clean energy.

The legislation, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.), included the language from the $494 billion Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act, known as the INVEST in America Act. The bill passed along a party-line vote of 0-0, with Republicans opposing how the bill was crafted and the inclusion of provisions focused on environmental protections.

Registration is now open for ATSSA’s Midyear Digital meeting to be held online from Aug. 24-27. This year’s meeting will be held in a fully digitized format with a variety of components reimagined due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing restrictions.  Inspiring real-world solutions, Midyear Digital will kick off with a 45-minute virtual town hall style session that will include key transportation professionals discussing prominent industry issues and innovations. The event will then continue with virtual committee and council meetings.

Help shape the Association’s policies and initiatives in the coming year by participating in Midyear Digital. Take advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with more than 300 like-minded ATSSA members from across the country as we demonstrate our commitment to innovation and advancement of roadway safety infrastructure.

The Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act is headed for a full vote in the House of Representatives prior to July 4, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who said voting could begin as early as June 30.

After a markup process that lasted a little more than 24 hours, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted to pass the INVEST in America Act late Thursday night. The committee voted along party lines, 35-25, to pass the five-year surface transportation reauthorization through the committee. The markup saw the consideration of 177 amendments over a two-day span that, at times, became heated as Republicans made it clear they believed they were shut out in drafting the $494 billion package.

The recording is now available from Tuesday's ATSSA Town Hall on the New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST in America Act), which was introduced this month by Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chair Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Rep. Dan (D-Ill.) Lipinski, who chairs the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.

You can hear all of  the details from the conversation between Lipinski, a Democrat representing Illinois' 3rd Congrressoinal District, and ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith.

We just concluded our virtual Town Hall with Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith discussing highway funding and the INVEST in America Act.

He called the bill a "robust funding commitment" and said he's  "much more optimistic" than he was 24 hours ago about getting passage of a highway bill this year.