ARTBA for ARTBA

Transportation TRA

Opposed proposal to amend House Rules to repeal the guaranteed funding requirement for annual federal highway investment. Prior to the change, any member of the House could raise a point of order to block legislation that would reduce federal highway invesment from the levels set in a multi-year reauthorization bill. Removing the protection made transportation investments subject to attempts to reduce spending.

Contacted: Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); President of the U.S.; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Supported provisions of H.R. 5297 the Small Business Jobs Act (SBJA), including two significant tax incentives for equipment purchases and facility invesments. The SBJA would increase and expand Internal Revenue Code section 179 expensing and also includes an extension of bonus depreciation for certain capital expenditures.

Contacted: White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); President of the U.S.; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)

Bills named: H.R. 5297 (111th)

Economics/Economic Development ECN

Supported continued implementation of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Urged Secretary of Transportation to exercise his discretion under the bill to allocate funds to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act credit program. Promoted job-creating benefits of infrastructure investments. Testified before House Transportation and Infrastructure on success of ARRA transportation investments and need for multi-year surface transportation reauthorization.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); President of the U.S.; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); White House Office; SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

Bills named: H.R. 1 (111th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Supported increased investment in surface transportation in omnibus appropriation bill and in H.R. 5850, the FY 2011 transportation appropriations bill. H.R. 5850 would provide $45.2 billion for federal highway investment, $11.3 billion for public transportation, $3.5 billion for airport construction and $1.4 billion for high-speed and intercity passenger rail. Supported amendment to H.R. 5850 requiring separate congressional authorization of the Administration's livability initiative before it could utilize highway funds.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); President of the U.S.; SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Bills named: H.R. 5850 (111th)

Environment/Superfund ENV

Urged U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials not to regulate coal ash as a "hazardous" waste, which could make concrete more costly and less durable, thus increasing costs and the environmental impact of vital transportation improvement projects.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); President of the U.S.; SENATE

Aviation/Airlines/Airports AVI

Supported H.R. 915 and S. 1451, legislation to reauthorize the federal aviation programs. Lobbied for increased airport infrastructure investment through raising the passenger facility charge and increased funding for the Airport Improvement Program. Supported temporary extensions, H.R. 4853 and H.R. 5809, of the federal aviation programs while also advocating for a multi-year reauthorization.

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); President of the U.S.; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); SENATE

Bills named: S. 1451 (111th), H.R. 915 (111th), H.R. 4853 (111th), H.R. 5809 (111th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

H.R. 3285. Urged members of Congress to clarify the definition of "asbestos" in proposed legislation seeking to ban all asbestos materials.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); President of the U.S.; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)

Bills named: H.R. 3285 (111th)

Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW

S. 787 The Clean Water Restoration Act, H.R. 5088, the America's Committment to Clean Water Act. Urged opposition to expanding the Army Corps of Engineers authority to regulate U.S. wetlands. Provided recommendations to Congress to ensure global climate change proposals protect transportation projects.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); President of the U.S.; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); White House Office; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Bills named: H.R. 5088 (111th), S. 787 (111th)