The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act over the weekend, a sprawling bill centered around health care provisions, corporate tax increases and climate provisions, sending the bill to the House, which is expected to approve the legislation later this week.

Within the 775-page bill, ATSSA members will also see a nearly $1.9 billion competitive grant program aimed  at improving walkability, safety and increasing affordable transportation options. 

ATSSA will continue to follow the legislation and provide updates as it moves through Congress.

In championing the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Joe Biden specifically mentioned “highway guardrails” as a positive outcome of the legislation. This is apparently the first mention of guardrails in the history of these presidential addresses to Congress.

Additionally, Biden announced that the nation would start fixing “over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair.” That was in addition to 4,000 projects Biden said had already been announced.

ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner commended the emphasis on infrastructure and the specific reference to a proven lifesaving device produced by ATSSA members.

Infrastructure is in the news nearly daily and is a hot topic in the nation’s capital as Congress and the president propose ideas to address infrastructure needs.

Infrastructure Week kicks off on Monday and focuses on meeting the nation’s needs for roads and bridges as well as safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Infrastructure is critical to roadway safety,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said. “This week provides one more reminder of the importance of coming together to provide safe travel for all roadway users. In a nation where division is all too common these days, infrastructure unites us.”

The latest COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress included nearly $10 billion in federal funds for transportation as reported here last month. The vast majority of that money--$9.8 billion—will go to state departments of transportation (DOTs) across the country.  

Industry publication Construction Dive has now gathered details of the amounts expected to go to each state DOT as well as the DOT for the nation’s capital, and created a chart detailing the allotments. Its report also details how the money will be allotted and indicates that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is to distribute the funds within 30 days of the bill’s signing by former President Donald Trump, which took place Dec. 27.

The Senate this evening approved a one-year extension of the federal highway bill, which would have expired at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The extension was included in a continuing resolution (CR) passed by both chambers to avert a government shutdown. The stopgap bill pushes the deadline to pass the yearly spending budgets for the federal government to Dec. 11.

The Senate approved the action by an 84-10 vote.

ATSSA members heard from three members of Congress and a U.S. Senator today during the first day of the Association’s two-day Legislative Briefing & Fly-In.

This year’s event was handled via virtual format with nearly 70 people taking part from across the country. Two members of Congress spoke from their Capitol Hill offices.

On Wednesday, ATSSA members are scheduled for 54 meetings with federal legislators or their staff members.

ATSSA’s Legislative Briefing & Virtual Fly-In starts Tuesday with an afternoon full of legislative updates from the Government Relations Team and members of Congress.

Tuesday's activities run from 1-5 p.m. EDT. The two-day event also includes virtual meetings with legislators on Wednesday, providing ATSSA members the opportunity to interact directly with their federal legislators and congressional staff and drive their messages to Capitol Hill.

This annual event provides ATSSA members training in advocacy with federal legislators and gives them the opportunity to develop long lasting relationships with members of Congress. They can then take the skills home and continue using them to convey our industry’s priorities to elected officials at all levels of government.

ATSSA’s 2020 Legislative Briefing & Fly-In has gone virtual, offering members the opportunity to participate without traveling to the nation’s capital.

“If you’ve never taken part, this year’s event provides a great way to get a glimpse into legislative advocacy from the comfort of your home or office,” said ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith. “The Legislative Briefing & Fly-In gives ATSSA members the unique opportunity to interact directly with lawmakers and have their issues and priorities heard.”

The Sept. 15-16 event is free to members but the deadline to register is Sept. 7.

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.

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.