ATA calls on Obama administration for real solutions concerning transportation plans

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ARLINGTON, Va. — Trucking industry leaders are calling on the Obama administration to focus on real solutions to America’s troubles concerning infrastructure funding. 
 
“We expect that in the coming days Secretary Foxx and the Obama administration will present their transportation reauthorization plan to Congress,” commented American Trucking Associations (ATA) president and CEO Bill Graves. “While this proposal will be lauded as a great step forward for transportation, that will only be true if the administration offers long-term solutions to our highway and bridge infrastructure shortcomings – and not yet another in a series of quick fixes.”
 
 
ATA has regularly called on Congress and the administration to keep the Highway Trust Fund in the black by implementing user fees to guarantee long-term federal funding. 
 
“If reports are correct that the administration’s plan will centre on proceeds from the unlikely passage of corporate tax reform and increased use of inefficient tolling and private finance options, then this proposal will be a tremendous missed opportunity,” Graves continued. “A strong, well-funded federal highway program is critical to our nation’s economic success and another round of Band-Aids and hollow promises won’t get it done.”
 
ATA chairman Phil Byrd and president of Bulldog Hiway Express also commented: “It is critical that the administration’s funding blueprint puts resources where they can do the most good. Administration should carve out a program to fund the needs of freight transportation that focuses on the mode that moves the most goods: trucks. This administration needs to make much needed investments in repairing our existing roads and bridges and looking for ways to add capacity to meet our growing needs.”
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  • Obama is putting forward a bill this week, but congress will say no, look I am psychic, those funds are needed to repay the koch brothers tax cuts. Congress has not passed anything that involved people going back to work, why would they even think of it now? Congress has important things to do repeal the healthcare bill for the 55th time.