Mica's Highway Bill Sets the Right Priorities

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) presented an outline for a new highway and transit bill that would set transportation policies for the next six years.  

The American Highway Users Alliance (Highway Users) supports Chairman Mica's decision to move forward with a bill that reforms transportation policy, cuts bureaucracy and red tape, and expedites the delivery of important projects that will move our economy forward.  Our members look forward to a detailed review of the bill language as soon as it is released.

According to Highway Users President & CEO Greg Cohen, "Faced with tight funding constraints from the House's conservative budget resolution, Mica has been forced to make tough funding decisions.  We wish highway funding levels were higher, but we think it's important that, rather than cut all programs equally, he took a courageous step in saying 'No' to many of the special interest groups that wanted to hold the money in Washington or mandate wasteful diversions."

"By eliminating earmarks for Members of Congress and the Obama Administration, funding in the bill will be distributed more quickly to States as part of a new 'performance-based' transportation program.   By expediting project delivery, life-saving, economically critical highway projects won't be stuck on the drawing board for decades."

Cohen added, "We are very pleased that Mica is sparing life-saving safety programs from cuts and that the National Highway System (NHS) will be among the highest construction priorities."  

The NHS, which includes the Interstate Highways, make up only 4% of America's roads but carry 40% of all traffic, including 75% of heavy truck traffic and 90% of tourist traffic.  In many ways, the NHS is America's economic lifeline.

"We also look forward to the imminent release of the bipartisan Senate bill, which we hope will also include many of the same reforms and a higher investment level," said Cohen.

The American Highway Users Alliance represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility.

SOURCE American Highway Users Alliance