Legislative Fly-In and Concrete Session Scheduled
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The Transportation Construction Coalition Fly-in will be held May 8 and 9 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

During the TCC Fly-in, the partners of the North American Concrete Alliance (NACA) will host a Concrete Session to highlight pressing issues in the concrete and cement industries.

NACA would like to expand the cement and concrete industry's influence on Capitol Hill, all with the goal of increasing industry visibility, and in turn, transportation- and construction-related funding.

To streamline our message and create an effective program, NACA is asking that you complete the following survey. Click here to take this quick, four-question survey.

For more information about the TCC Fly-In, contact: David Hubbard, Robert Sullivan, or Bill Davenport.

President Proposes FY 2008 Transportation Budget

The Administration this week released its $2.9 trillion budget request for FY 2008 which includes $66.97 billion for programs under the Department of Transportation.

The FY 2008 budget plan provides $39.6 billion for the federal-aid highway program, including $4.0 billion for the bridge program and $5.7 billion for the National Highway System.

Although the $39.6 billion for highways is the amount authorized in the SAFETEA-LU surface transportation law, the budget proposal eliminates $842 million from the FY 2007 revenue aligned budget authority (RABA) adjustment, an annual calculation that ensures highway funding coincides with actual and anticipated Highway Trust Fund revenue.

The Administration had requested $842 million for RABA in 2007 and is likely to be included in the pending year-long continuing resolution. The DOT budget request also shortchanges the transit Capital Investment Grants program by $300 million, providing $1.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants were funded at $2.75 billion, $765 million less than the level contained in the pending FY 2007 continuing resolution.


For more information, contact: David Hubbard, John Sullivan, or Robert Sullivan.

States Urge Supreme Court Not to Overturn Lower Court Ruling

Fifteen states that successfully challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule to define the equipment replacement exemption from new source review (NSR) requirements have urged the Supreme Court not to consider overturning the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to strike down the rule.

New York led a group of 14 states that convinced the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to vacate the rule establishing 20 percent of total unit cost as the threshold below which equipment replacement would be routine, and therefore exempt.

EPA petitioned the Supreme Court for a certiorari (writ of review issued by a higher court to a lower court) review of the lower court decision. The latest state briefs defend the D.C. Circuit decision.

Contact: Tom Carter.

Climate Change Update

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in a release of its most dramatic report to date, stated that global climate change is already occurring and that human-made emissions are responsible.

The findings were supported by the White House and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but the Bush Administration continues to oppose U.S. emission caps.

Meanwhile, French President Jacques Chirac has called for a global tax on carbon dioxide emissions. The European Union Parliament has urged mandatory emission targets for China and India.

U.S. Senate Environment and Public Work Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has asked that high-level representatives from the 12 countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions gather for a climate change summit.

In other Congressional news, former Vice President Al Gore has agreed to testify on climate change at hearing of subcommittees of the House Energy and Commerce and Science Committees.

In state developments, Maryland is considering joining the number of states that are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Finally, the World Wildlife Foundation honored a number of companies—including Lafarge—for participating in the Climate Savers program.

Contact: Tom Carter.

Senate Introduces Bill for Green Buildings

On Tuesday, Senator John Warner (R-VA) introduced S. 489, the High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007.

The bill is similar to legislation (H.R. 121) recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Penn.).

Both bills would establish a green buildings office within General Services Administration that would, among other things, coordinate the "greening" of new federal building construction.

Contact: John Sullivan.

Employee Free Choice Act Introduced

On Tuesday, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) introduced HR 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, one of organized labor's top legislative priorities.

Under HR 800, a union will simply have to persuade a majority of workers to sign authorizations (check-cards) indicating support for the union in order to become a recognized bargaining agent.

This would replace current practice whereby employees or unions may petition the National Labor Relations Board for a secret ballot organizing election if at least 30 percent of employees have signed authorization cards.

HR 800 would also establish a binding arbitration process, following a successful card-check campaign, if the union and employer are unable to reach agreement after 90 days.

In addition, the Act would set steep penalties for any violations of the National Labor Relations Act committed while employees are attempting to organize, including treble back-pay for employees who are discharged or discriminated against during an organizing campaign.

While House approval of HR 800 is likely, although it is expected that the card-check legislation will face stiff resistance in the Senate.

Contact: Robert Sullivan.

Contact: Robert Sullivan.

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