NAPA briefs Congressional staff on BUILD America 250 Act
NAPA is continuing its full-court press urging Congress to pass the BUILD America 250 Act as the Sept. 30 deadline to enact a surface transportation reauthorization bill approaches.
Vice President of Government Affairs Nile Elam and Director of Government Affairs Mitch Baldwin briefed congressional staff on the BUILD America 250 Act July 8. Additionally, Baldwin detailed the urgency of advancing the BUILD America 250 Act—and the consequences of failing to do so—to dozens of Capitol Hill staffers during a surface transportation reauthorization briefing last week.
“Advancing the BUILD America 250 Act will keep the reauthorization process moving, encourage Senate action, and ensure Congress remains focused on modernizing America’s surface transportation system,” Elam said.
The BUILD America 250 Act, a bipartisan $580 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill, passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 66-2 in early May. The bill, which NAPA strongly endorsed, would provide the investment, certainty, and policy reforms needed to maintain and advance America’s national roadway network.
Elam and Baldwin explained how the bill’s investments would benefit communities across the country while outlining the potential consequences if Congress fails to enact the legislation. They also encouraged congressional staff to use NAPA as a resource.
“We’re committed to helping Congress understand what this legislation means on the ground, and NAPA is ready to be a resource throughout the reauthorization process,” Baldwin said.
The House Ways & Means Committee must consider the tax-related provisions before the full House can take up the bill. Despite the delay, some leaders remain optimistic about the BUILD America 250 Act’s prospects.
“I’m very hopeful” that the House will vote on it in July, Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, told POLITICO last week.
“We need to move this package as quickly as possible to keep the reauthorization process on track,” Elam added.
