Invest Resources, Improve Speed & Quality, Enhance Safety & Reliability: AGC Highlights Importance of Infrastructure to Increase Productivity and Economic Growth Urges Congress and the President to Make Commitment to Highway System

Associated General Contractors of Americas (AGC) newly released publication for the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).

Washington -- Creating a highway program that meets Americas mobility, safety and economic challenges is the theme of the Associated General Contractors of Americas (AGC) newly released publication for the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The reauthorization recommendations call for a straightforward approach as a basis for reauthorization-we must invest, improve and enhance our nations highways.

AGC members are proud to be building your quality of life and one of AGCs top priorities is preserving, protecting and enhancing our national transportation system. The recommendations detailed in this report come at a crossroads in America. TEA-21 reversed a trend and was the initial down payment used to stop the deterioration of our nations transportation system," said Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC Chief Executive Officer.

Among the most significant items in the report is the AGC recommendation that the federal motor fuels tax be indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in lieu of raising the gas tax. Indexing the CPI would generate an estimated $900 million in additional funds, which would help meet the needs of the federal government, states and the industry as they grow due to inflation.

We feel that indexing the gas tax will insure that revenues coming into the trust keep pace with inflation and will provide economic growth and long-range transportation planning," said Sandherr.

Securing Americas Future: A National Commitment to Build a Highway System that Meets Americas Mobility, Safety and Economic Challenges highlights several recommendations for reauthorization which include investing the trust fund balances, capturing lost revenue from the ethanol tax break, eliminating fuel tax evasion, streamlining the environmental review process, allowing states to fund their priorities, eliminating funding sanctions, improving efficiencies of the federal-aid highway program, improving the safety of workers and highway work zones, and creating a 25-year national transportation and infrastructure development plan.

Editors note: Copies of the book are available upon request by contacting AGC public Affairs.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States. AGC represents more than 35,000 firms, including 7,500 of Americas leading general contractors, and over 12,000 specialty-contracting firms. Over 14,000 service providers and suppliers are associated with AGC through a nationwide network of chapters. Visit the AGC web site at www.agc.org. AGC members are "Building Your Quality of Life."
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