NASBP Focal Point – May 22, 2024

Federal Report

Happenings on the Hill: It has been a busy past few weeks in the U.S. Congress. Last week, Congress passed and the President signed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years. The five-year reauthorization provides funding for the FAA while addressing various aspects of consumer protection for air travel, investments in air traffic control, and makes significant investments for construction in the nation’s airports as delineated in Title IV, “Airport Improvement Program Modifications.” House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Sam Graves (R-MO), issued a press statement on the importance of this monumental legislative achievement.

Water Resources Development Act (WRDA): On Wednesday morning the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW) marked up legislation to reauthorize WRDA for a two-year cycle dedicated for flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). NASBP had sought to include legislation, S.2928 (Kelly/Cramer), in the text of the WRDA bill or as an amendment during the markup. Unfortunately both attempts were unsuccessful. NASBP and other interested groups will continue to look for other opportunities to advance the legislation. S.2928 clarifies that performance and payment bonds are required when federal loans, grant funds are provided or when public-private partnership agreements (P3s) are utilized for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) contracts. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is expected to markup their version on WRDA soon.

The Farm Bill: Last week, Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture released the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024,” aka The Farm Bill. Included in Title VI: Rural Development, Subtitle B—”Connecting Rural Americans to High Speed Broadband,” of the Discussion Draft Text calls for strengthening the rural broadband connectivity for rural communities through loans and grants. The House AG Committee is scheduled to markup the Farm Bill on Thursday. The Discussion Draft, however, did not include a reference to bonds for the construction of broadband deployment. House and Senate Leadership on the AG Committee oppose the Discussion Draft because they believe it cuts much needed funding dedicated to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The five-year bill was scheduled for reauthorization in 2023 but was extended until September 30, 2024.

State Activity

A National Transportation Research Nonprofit (TRIP): Recently updated their national and state fact sheets to reflect the latest data available including updated national and state statistics on work zone fatalities. Please feel free to share this important information with your colleagues and clients.

If you are aware of any bills impacting the industry, please reach out to Larry LeClair, NASBP’s Director of Government Relations, and let us know.