Markup of Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill

Markup of Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released the bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 over the weekend. It sets a new, historically high baseline funding level of $303.5 billion for Department of Transportation programs for highways, roads, and bridges. The funding level is a more than 34 percent increase over the 2015 FAST Act, the last reauthorization to pass Congress. Prior authorization for surface transportation programs expired in 2020, but Congress passed a one-year extension set to expire September 30, 2021.

Chairman of the Committee, Tom Carper (D-DE), stated that he was proud to, “join with [his] colleagues in crafting a bipartisan bill that invests in our nation’s transportation infrastructure at a historic high level, and in doing so, helps create jobs, curbs our carbon emissions, and expands opportunities for the American people.”

The bill would authorize $2.5 billion for electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure grants and $6.4 billion for states to reduce transportation emissions. Republican priorities to give more flexibility to states and reduce regulation were also included in the bill. The legislation mandates changes to the environmental review process for major projects by requiring the Transportation Department to average no more than two years to complete a review.

Of note, third-party logistics providers were included as representatives to serve on state freight advisory committees (SEC. 1125.)

The bill is set for markup on Wednesday, May 26.

IWLA The Resource for Warehouse Logistics

To become an IWLA member visit, http://31y.93c.myftpupload.com/become-an-iwla-member/