The American Highway Users Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization serving as the united voice of the transportation community promoting safe, uncongested highways and enhanced freedom of mobility.
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Hard-Fought Victory on 2008 Highway Funding!

On December 26, President Bush signed into law, the fiscal year 2008 consolidated appropriations bill, which fully funds the highway program at $40.2 billion, adds an extra $1 billion to the bridge program, and eliminates a major diversion of monies from the Highway Trust Fund.

The Highway Users actively lobbied for a number of provisions in the bill and we're extremely pleased that our most important requests were fully accepted by senior appropriators on both sides of the aisle, and ultimately by the President. Over the course of the year, our members and their friends, co-workers, business contacts and family members used www.highways.org to send thousands and thousands of emails to Members of Congress. We have no doubt that these emails were an effective supplement to our in-person lobbying sessions.

To recap, 2007 began with a Presidential budget request that proposed cutting the 2008 guaranteed highway funding level by $3.4 billion, by deleting a special funding boost known as "Revenue Aligned Budget Authority" or RABA. In addition, the budget proposal recommended that more than $200 million in vehicle safety be supplied by the Highway Trust Fund, instead of the General Fund of the Treasury, as authorized. With the Highway Trust Fund under stress and facing bankruptcy by 2009, The Highway Users led a coalition that lobbied for full highway and safety funding, properly sourced. That includes Highway Trust Funds for roadway and behavioral safety programs and general funds for vehicle safety programs. Ultimately, we were successful and the funding was properly sourced for the first time in 5 years -- saving the Highway Trust Fund about $200 million.

In July, following the tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge, The Highway Users worked the national and local television, radio and newspaper press while heavily lobbying both the Senate and House. We met with Democrats and Republican authorizers and appropriators to increase bridge funding. The transportation appropriations bill had already passed the House before the bridge collapse, so it was up to the Senate appropriators to take the lead in developing a provision providing extra funds for bridges. The Senate added $1 billion to their bill and we met with their House counterparts to urge support for the provision. We also supported House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar's proposal to raise three years of funding for a new, non-earmarked, merit-based bridge program. In the end, Oberstar supported the appropriators plan. We were pleased that it was included in the final conference report.

Although the House and Senate passed their respective appropriations bills with overwhelming majorities, the White House threatened a veto of the conference report. In a Statement of Administration Policy, the President's advisors threatened to veto transportation appropriations and complained about excessive funding -- demanding a cut to highway programs, among other more strenuous objections to funding for other modes. The Highway Users developed a grassroots and lobbying campaign to urge a vote to pass a conference report and override the President's veto. When the House and Senate conference committee agreed to a final transportation package, the House overwhelmingly passed it but the Senate could not surmount internal procedural hurdles to get an up-or-down vote.

In late December, the House and Senate leadership agreed to package Transportation Appropriations into a catch-all omnibus appropriations package, which funded eleven major areas of the federal government. In a showdown between Congress and the President, Congress was forced to substantially cut spending from federal programs to bring down the total cost of the package to a level that would avoid a veto. Highway programs could have been cut, despite the earlier votes for full funding. Yet Congressional leaders protected our programs and in the end, highway programs escaped the chopping block. Although the details of the final bill weren't perfect, we're very pleased by the final package and proud of our members for personally taking action in support of lobbying efforts.

Victory! Energy Bill Includes Tough but Reasonable CAFE Requirements & EPA Denies California Waiver

The Highway Users spent considerable time in 2007 lobbying for compromise on proposals to raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy for cars and light trucks. In June, the Senate surprised many by quickly passing an Energy Bill before the House of Representatives developed their own comprehensive package. Without much debate, the Senate included extreme measures that we felt would make larger cars, light trucks, minivans, and SUVs unaffordable for most highway users. We also were concerned that the sudden changes proposed by the Senate would lead to safety problems, since the only way to fully meet such extreme standards would be to reduce the size and weight of passenger vehicles. Aside from the CAFE issue, we joined a number of groups in sending a letter to Congressional leaders objecting to a number of anti-energy provisions in the Senate bill, which would raise the cost of motor fuels and reduce access to proven American oil reserves.

The public debate over the Senate's bill got into full swing before the House completed work on its bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urged House members to support the Senate energy bill but a competing House proposal supported by The Highway Users proved more popular, sponsored by Reps. Baron Hill (D-Ind.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.). The Hill/Terry proposal included ambitious increases in fuel economy standards, but unlike the Senate bill, a number of consumer protections were included to keep larger vehicles affordable and preserve consumer choice. Engaging our grassroots membership, we developed a network of email supporters who sent thousands of emails to their Congressmen and Senators in support of Hill/Terry. We joined multiple coordinated lobbying efforts composed of diverse groups, such as the American Farm Bureau, National Grange, Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, National Automobile Dealers Association, and the Auto Alliance to push for the Hill/Terry bill. It became the most popular CAFE proposal in the House with more than 200 cosponsors. Yet, given Speaker Pelosi's preference for the Senate CAFE language, the House energy bill remained void of CAFE provisions, which she promised to include in a final conference report. We remained strongly opposed to the House energy bill for the objectionable provisions raising the price of oil and motor fuel.

Joining the debate late in the year was our Honorary Chairman Norm Mineta, who served as Secretary of Transportation under President Bush, and Rodney Slater, who served as Department of Transportation Secretary under President Clinton. Together they wrote to Congressional leaders, pushing for a reasonable compromise. In the end, Congress enacted tough but reasonable CAFE provisions that we supported and eliminated the most serious anti-energy provisions that would have raised the price of fuel. The American Highway Users Alliance was pleased to support the final package.

Following passage of the Energy Bill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rejected a request from the State of California that would have allowed the State to regulate greenhouse gases by setting state-specific CAFE standards for motor vehicles. Under such a plan, California could set its own CAFE standards that differed from those in the Energy Bill. The Highway Users' supports EPA's rejection of California's waiver, which would create different fuel economy standards from state-to-state. California has filed a lawsuit in the 9th Circuit Court to overturn EPA's decision.

Victory! Safety Rulemaking Will Make Signs Brighter and Safer

In late December, the Federal Highway Administration published a final rule that set standards on retroreflectivity for road signs. The Highway Users was an effective advocate for the new standards, and we brought together AAA National and AARP to join us in sending joint comments in support of the proposed standards. The final rulemaking decision references our letter, which was instrumental in convincing FHWA to reject efforts to weaken or eliminate the standards. We are proud of the historic cooperation we have received from AAA and AARP and know that safety will improve, particularly for senior drivers, who have more challenges with nighttime visibility than other drivers. The new requirements are included in the 2nd Edition of the 2003 Manual of Traffic Control Devices. For more information on the new requirements, please see www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro.

Success! Highway Users Alliance Makes Progress in Fighting Tolls on I-80

In mid-December, The Highway Users signed a joint letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) objecting to Pennsylvania's plan to toll Interstate 80. After receiving our letter, FHWA sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority that raised serious questions about the I-80 toll plan and made clear that the plan as proposed did not meet the stringent requirements of the federal Interstate Toll pilot program. Other signatories included representatives of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, American Trucking Associations, and National Truck Stop Operators Association - all of whom are founding members of Americans for a Strong National Highway Network. We urged FHWA to reject Pennsylvania's application to toll I-80 and questioned the legality of such a plan. Pennsylvania's application to toll I-80 would include high and growing tolls, diversion of funds off I-80 to support unrelated transportation systems including ailing State transit systems, such as the beleaguered SEPTA transit system in the Philadelphia area. Although we support more funding for Pennsylvania's road needs, we do not support placing tolls on existing taxpayer funded Interstate highway lanes. We have also objected to Pennsylvania's effort to "monetize" the Pennsylvania turnpike. Monetizing the turnpike would lead to high tolls that target interstate commercial and recreational travel as the main source of revenue increases for Pennsylvania's general transportation programs. The Highway Users' remains supportive of broad-based user fees, such as fuel taxes, as the fairest way to finance highway programs.

2008: A Look Ahead

In 2008, the Highway Users will work on unfinished business from 2007 and some critical new agenda items. A new 2008 Action Plan is coming next month! A quick preview of the year ahead:

In mid-January, we will issue a major press release and hold a press briefing to respond to the long-term federal transportation recommendations of the Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission. We expect a January 15th release and we'll keep you posted.

Throughout the year, we will use our excellent bipartisan relationship with the House and Senate tax-writing and transportation committees to advance proposals to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through 2009. We remain supportive of tax provisions in the FAA Authorization bill that includes $5 billion in revenue for the Highway Trust Fund, without raising taxes.

In May, The Highway Users will release a 2008 Edition of "The Road to Congress - How Highway Issues Help Your Campaign". This binder is THE toolkit for primary election winners to incorporate pro-highway messages into their election campaign. A number of sponsoring organizations are investing in this effort. Contact us to get involved by emailing gregcohen@highways.org.

The Highway Users reauthorization plan will be released mid-year and we will propose a groundbreaking Congestion Relief plan as part of our Performance-Based Highway Reauthorization Proposal. To get involved in this effort, please join our Planning and Government Affairs Committee by sending us an email at cherylhollins@highways.org.

We will also be taking a greater and more proactive role in upcoming energy debates. We were pleased that the most objectionable and costly provisions of the energy bill were dropped in December and will be working to shape the debate to prevent their re-emergence and shape public opinion in support of increasing fuel supplies, protecting consumers, and lowering costs.

These are just a few of the many exciting programs ahead for The Highway Users. Please contact us to weigh in and help us finalize our 2008 Agenda. Join the PGA Committee and contact us with your thoughts and advice. We value your membership and appreciate your involvement!