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House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN), together with other Members of the T&I Committee Leadership, introduced H.R. 6327, a bill that would extend authority for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and aviation taxes until September 30, 2008. The bill also restores $8 billion to the Highway Trust Fund to ensure that there are sufficient funds to honor SAFETEA-LU authorized levels in FY 2009. The House will consider the bill the week of Jun 23rd. FAA authorization expires on June 30 and therefore an extension is necessary.
The bill's Highway Trust Fund fix provision is the same as that which has been proposed in the Senate by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Republican Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA). Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Republican Jim Inhofe (R-OK) have been circulating a letter asking other Senators to sign on in support of the Baucus/Grassley/Murray fix. Support for the Senate bill is building.
Pennsylvania is projected to see a funding cut of $544 million in FY 2009 and a projected job loss of 18,913 if the Highway Trust Fund fix is not passed. AGC members across the country have responded in tremendous numbers. If you have not yet done so please use AGC's Legislative Action Center to send an email letter in support to your Senators and Representative. Click on CAWP's Legislative Action Center above.
 
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