AEM Seeks Funding for Highway Bill

 

Emerging powers are using our interstate highway system as a model for advancement, as we neglect our own infrastructure improvements and risk losing our global competitive advantage.

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined the US Chamber of Commerce to urge Congress to focus on the serious need to fund the highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) and to adopt Representative Jim Oberstar's proposed three-month extension of the current highway bill rather than the Senate's 18-month extension.

AEM has been a constant voice for adequate funding for roads, bridges and other surface transportation upgrades. Greater investment is needed for the United States to maintain its worldwide economic leadership.

You get what you pay for and if the US wants to be the global economic leader, it needs the best surface transportation to move goods to market.

Proper investment in surface transportation also means jobs for key manufacturing sectors. Construction equipment manufacturers have lost a significant number of jobs as some product categories are down in 2009 by 70 to 80 percent.

Our country simply cannot afford to wait 18 months for long-term investment that will provide comprehensive solutions to our transportation challenges and create jobs.

Source: Equipment Manufacturers