Washington, D.C. – A majority of the North Carolina Congressional delegation have thrown their support behind Congressman Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) in his efforts to avoid disruptions in vital transportation projects and the loss of thousands of construction jobs that are associated with them. In a letter sent yesterday to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner, Shuler urged the extension of transportation project funding in a fair and equitable manner. View the letter.
The funding for the nation’s transportation programs is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2010. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) is slated to be extended through the end of the year. The Senate has proposed allocating funding in these programs to states based on the amount of funding each state received in earmarks during the original SAFETEA-LU. This would give 58% of the roughly $932 million in these accounts to four states and would provide absolutely no funding to 22 states, including North Carolina. View a PDF chart showing how states would fare under the Senate proposal.
Representatives Mike McIntyre, David Price, Walter Jones, Larry Kissell, Mel Watt, Brad Miller and G.K. Butterfield have lent their signatures to Shuler’s letter which advocates for the funding, totaling $932 million, to be allocated at the discretion of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation through a competitive selection process available to all states. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has also expressed support for a competitive process to ensure that the state has the opportunity to compete for funds based on the merits of its projects.
“The Senate is proposing an illogical and unfair method of allocating these funds that will make North Carolina ineligible for funding,” said Congressman Shuler. “This is not acceptable. I am advocating for a fairer allocation method, as passed by the House, which will fund worthy projects in all states and give our state a fair shot.”
Congressman Larry Kissell (D-NC) said, “The Senate proposal would place a 15-month prohibition on funding for many states with projects of national significance. This is unacceptable. I am proud to support Congressman Shuler in his fight to make sure all states, including North Carolina, have the opportunity to compete for funding for vital transportation projects.”
###