Last week, ACPA joined 66 allied organizations writing a letter to Congressional leaders urging passage of 2022 Appropriations for the Department of Transportation to release the entirety of Highway Trust Fund (HTF) funds. Due to the lack of full-year government funding, states and local governments are not able to access the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)’s roughly 20 percent funding increase for highway formula programs. While progress is reported to have been made between negotiators, a deal is still a ways off with government funding running out in 16 days. In the case a full-year appropriations package is not passed by that time, the letter asks Congress to include an ‘anomaly’ in any further Continuing Resolutions which would raise obligation limits to match the levels set out in the IIJA.

The full text of the letter, including a table demonstrating the difference in current versus full funding levels under IIJA, is available here. ACPA will continue to monitor the progress of appropriations negotiations and apply pressure, in coordination with our allies, where possible. We will also continue to track the release of other IIJA funds and associated opportunities.