Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011

The Surface and Air Transportation Program Extension Act of 2011 became a United States law when President Barack Obama signed the Act on September 16, 2011 (Public Law No. 112-30. The law extends taxes which fund federal highway expenditures through March and the Federal Aviation Administration through January. The Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011 is a direct result of an agreement which was reached by the House and Senate majority leaders. This extension act was a top priority to Congress because federal highway and FAA funding was about to expire.[1]

Voting facts

The bill passed through the United States House of Representatives on September 13, 2011, and through the United States Senate on September 15, 2011. President Obama signed the bill on September 16, 2011.[1]

Committee assignments

Committees are formed to critique the proposed bill and to aid in lobbying to the United States Congress for consideration. The Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011 was on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the House Ways and Means Committee.[1]

Amendments

On September 15, 2011, two amendments were introduced to the legislation. Senator Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced both amendments. The first amendment set limits on the Highway Trust Fund, and the second amendment decreased disbursements of the Federal Aviation Administration.[1]

FAA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Bill-to-law highlights[2]

Extension of federal-aid highways

Funds for federal aid to highways will be allocated from the Highway Trust Fund, but none to be taken from the Mass Transit Account, for projects between the time-frame of October 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012.[3]

Summary details

Extended funds have been allocated towards:

Transportation program funds extended

A construction worker with column reinforcement steel

Details

The Surface and Air Transportation Act provided funding for:

Benefits relating to the passing of the bill

Arguments against the temporary fix

Although the American Trucking Association (ATA) is relieved that the act was extended ensuring further job proposals, the organization feels it is only a quick fix that will essentially boost employment temporarily. The organization is pushing for passing multi-year legislation, instead of, multi-month legislation. The organization feels that this is a long overdue problem that is being fixed on a short, temporary basis.[5]

The ATA's President, Bill Graves, is not convinced, and even though $27.5 billion in the jobs proposal initiated by Obama is going to help boost the nation's economy, by way of, funding needed repairs and expanding roads and bridges. It is only scratching the surface to the real problem at hand. Graves is skeptical of Obama's plans, in regards to, establishing an infrastructure bank and increasing other taxes to pay for roads, bridges, and other programs in the jobs bill.[5]

American Society of Civil Engineers

The American Society of Civil Engineers spoke loudly to Congress regarding passing the Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011, and to increase funding to aid in the country's broken infrastructure system. The programs were extended through to January 31, 2012. According to the "Failure to Act" division, if the United States does not invest in surface transportation programs soon, she will lose $900 billion.[6]

Related Obama Administration political initiatives

The logo of the Transportation Security Administration.

Main agencies in charge

  1. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
  2. Government Coordinating Council (GCC)
  3. Sector Coordinating Council (SCC)
  4. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council (SLTTGCC)[7]

See also

References

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