Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) president Dennis Slater issued the following statement after House Democrats unveiled a Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY2021, which includes a one-year extension of current surface transportation authorization funding levels. The continuing resolution released by the House today would authorize the transfer of $10.4 billion to the Highway Trust Fund from the general fund for highways and another $3.2 billion for transit.

“While equipment manufacturers had hoped for a multi-year surface transportation bill with strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, we are encouraged that the Continuing Resolution at least provides the certainty of a one-year extension that our infrastructure network, the U.S. economy, and our industry so desperately need," said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. "However, we are disappointed that the stopgap measure did not include critical funding increases to programs, as well as emergency funds for state departments of transportation. We urge Democrats and Republicans in both chambers to set aside their differences and immediately get to work on a long-term, comprehensive infrastructure bill that boosts investment in surface transportation networks, as well as our nation’s other infrastructure assets."

Earlier this month, AEM joined 88 other groups urging congressional leaders to pass a bill by September 30 that would include a turn-key, one-year extension of the current surface transportation law with increased investment levels, emergency federal funding for state departments of transportation and public transit agencies—$37 billion and $32 billion, respectively, and provisions to ensure solvency of the Highway Trust Fund for the duration of the extension at a minimum.

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