Republicans Introduce Commonsense Alternative to Improve America’s Roads, Bridges & Surface Transportation Infrastructure

A five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill to allow states and non-federal partners to more efficiently plan, expedite, and undertake important infrastructure projects, provide safer and more efficient movement of goods and people, and address needs of communities of all sizes was introduced in the House by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans today.

The Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, & Efficient Review (STARTER) Act was introduced by the Committee’s Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and other Committee Republicans.  The legislation, which was also proposed as an amendment during a two-day markup of the Majority’s surface transportation bill, reflects Republicans’ surface transportation principles.

“The STARTER Act is a reasonable, commonsense approach to improving our infrastructure that focuses on state flexibility, reasonable regulation reform, traditional core transportation needs, preparing our system for future transportation technologies, and a greater emphasis on rural America’s often neglected infrastructure needs,” Graves said.  “The Senate has worked in a bipartisan manner so far, and House Republicans remain ready to work constructively if this process moves forward in a meaningful way.  The Majority’s bill that was approved in committee today isn’t going to get signed into law, and the only path to improving our infrastructure and putting America’s back to work is through partnership, not partisanship.”

Following the markup of the Democrats’ bill (H.R. 2), Graves added, “I want all of my colleagues to remember why we fought for a seat on Transportation and Infrastructure – it’s because Members on this committee can work together to get things done.  Although this is the first time in my 20 years serving on the Committee that I had to vote against a surface transportation bill, I hope we can get back to working on bipartisan bills that help our country’s infrastructure.”

The STARTER Act focuses on key principles Republicans have advocated for this year:

• Ensuring state flexibility
  
• Streamlining the project delivery process to maximize available funding
  
• Prioritizing core programs and functions of our existing federal surface transportation programs
  
• Incorporating innovative developments in technology to improve our infrastructure
  
• Providing for the infrastructure needs of America’s rural communities
  
• Addressing the long-term sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund