As the Department of the Treasury prepares guidance on the measure’s $350 billion in relief funds for state and local governments and $10 billion in capital assistance, the undersigned organizations urge you to ensure transportation infrastructure is defined explicitly as a qualifying eligibility.

As you work to advance new technologies and solutions, we would urge for careful consideration to not limit critical research dollars that promote one material over others through select marketing activities. Projects should be decided on by their merits and decisions should be left to engineers and those with technical expertise in designing and executing projects. This will ensure only the best solutions, that truly solve our infrastructure challenges, are delivered at the best expense of the taxpayers

Echoing the hearing’s title, NSSGA loudly supports “Building Back Better” via a surface transportation reauthorization bill that will address the over $800 billion backlog of vital public works projects, which must be addressed in order to provide the motoring public safe and efficient roads, bridges and highways. Our national economy is already handicapped due the COVID-19 pandemic and investing in our crumbling infrastructure network will improve our local and national economy.

As the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure develops the next surface transportation reauthorization bill, our organizations strongly discourage you from including any increase in the existing minimum liability coverage for motor carriers.