CAGTC Executive Director Nessle makes statement on Chairman DeFazio’s INVEST in America Act

“The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), along with his Subcommittee Chairs, released today a five-year surface transportation proposal, Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act. Included in the proposal are provisions that would advance the state of our nation’s multimodal goods movement infrastructure.

In particular, the Coalition for America’s Gateways & Trade Corridors (CAGTC) applauds the INVEST in America Act’s continuation of dedicated investment in our nation’s freight assets, first through the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Program (INFRA) in Fiscal Year 2021, then through the Projects of National and Regional Significance Program (PNRS) through the remaining years of the proposal. Competitive grant programs are essential to funding large-scale goods movement infrastructure projects, which are difficult to fund through traditional distribution methods such as formula programs. With proper administration that includes consistent and transparent application of merit-based criteria focused on the movement of goods in our nation’s key freight hubs and corridors, investments made through both INFRA and PNRS will result in a demonstrable contribution to national freight efficiency. The INVEST in America Act also increases the amount of funding that can be invested in multimodal and intermodal infrastructure under the INFRA and PNRS programs. CAGTC has long called for a competitive grant program, fully available to multimodal and intermodal freight infrastructure, that employs merit-based criteria to select projects.
Similarly, we also applaud the proposal’s call to increase flexibility for state departments of transportation to invest in a state’s most pressing needs, regardless of mode, by removing the modal cap on the National Highway Freight Program (the freight formula program).
Recognizing that sufficient and reliable infrastructure funding has presented a challenge for many years, we appreciate the INVEST in America Act’s call to establish a joint task force between the Department of Transportation and the Internal Revenue Service to study the establishment and administration of a fee on multimodal freight surface transportation services.
As our nation begins to reopen and chart a path for economic recovery, much will be asked of our multimodal freight system. Sustained, dedicated investment that is commensurate with the infrastructure needs of our supply chain is needed to support our nation’s return to prosperity.”