The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is glad to see the Obama Administration proposing reauthorization for a multi-year surface transportation bill and engaging in the vitally important conversation about the future of America’s serious need for greatly improved infrastructure.
Rick Patek, AEM Chair and Group President, Aggregate and Mining, Astec Industries Inc., made this statement: “Overall, we are glad to see today’s proposal, and are particularly pleased to see that the Administration has included a funding plan for this multi-year reauthorization. It’s moving in a good direction, but our concern, as with all such proposals, is that it does not provide the desperately needed, long-term stable financing solution the country demands. It would, however, expand broadband capacity and streamline project delivery, both of which are critical.
“To plan and make appropriate capital investments in the modernized transportation system that’s needed to maintain America’s leadership in the global economy, we must have a financing plan that takes us far into the future, much beyond a four-year period. Congress needs to act before the Highway Trust Fund is unable to meet its obligations. We encourage everyone – House, Senate, Administration – to keep this process moving forward and work hard together to craft the long-term solution we must have.”