AGC calls for TEA-21 boost - C&D News - Associated General Contractors of America's Highway Division lobbies House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Bridges on infrastructure investment gap - Brief Article

Recycling Today, Dec, 2002

Paul Diederich, president of Industrial Builders Inc. of Fargo, N.D., and chairman of the Highway Division of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), has urged the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Bridges to address "a huge and growing infrastructure investment gap" facing the U.S.

His recommendations were given as Congress considers the reauthorization of the TEA-21 transportation bill, which expires in 2003.

"TEA-21 has been a huge success," Diederich noted. "Despite the accomplishments of TEA-21, the nation still faces a huge and growing infrastructure investment gap. Based on current estimates, an annual federal investment of at least $50 billion is needed just to maintain current road conditions and performance."

Current spending levels are $31 billion annually', while one proposal calls for $27 billion in TEA-21 annual spending.

Additionally, Diederich urged the Committee to index several federal highway funding mechanisms to the Consumer Price Index, so that taxes collected on gasoline and tires will rise along with the general inflation rate.