The Senate agreed by a vote of 85–11 to begin considering its transportation reauthorization bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (S. 1813). The bipartisan effort is a striking contrast to the House's American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 (H.R. 7), which is also expected to hit the floor next week but has garnered no Democratic support and has come under fire from conservative factions within the GOP. With the current transportation funding extension set to expire on March 31, Congress must move quickly—but partisan rancor and election-year politics have raised doubts that Congress will be able to pass a long-term bill before November. A ninth short-term extension of current funding levels may be more likely. NSPE believes that appropriately funded infrastructure systems directly benefit the public's health, safety, and welfare. Without a strong infrastructure, our national economic position, including our nation's workforce, production, health, safety, and overall welfare is at risk. Enacting long-term federal transportation legislation is critical because it would enable the long-range planning required to bring U.S. infrastructure into a state of good repair. Read NSPE's position statement on infrastructure here.
