AASHTO urges Congress to advance BUILD America 250 Act
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) joined 60 other organizations in calling on Congressional leadership to preserve fiscal year 2026 funding levels enacted for all federal transportation programs if a short-term government funding measure or surface transportation program extension becomes necessary. According to AASHTO, Congress is preparing a short-term extension of surface transportation programs, as it appears a new multiyear reauthorization bill will not be enacted by September 30. The House of Representatives already has recessed until August 31, leaving the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act, or BUILD America 250 Act, awaiting action by the House Ways and Means Committee before consideration of the bill on the House floor.
The BUILD America 250 Act allocates $580 billion for highways, highway safety, transit and rail programs from FY 2027 through FY 2031, with $474.4 billion provided as Highway Trust Fund (HTF) contract authority.
“Any decision by Congress to reduce funding to federal transportation programs as part of any short-term continuing resolution or extension of the surface transportation programs will inject uncertainty into state and local investment decisions,” the organizations said in a July 27 letter to Congressional leadership.
