Senate invokes cloture, proceeds to highway bill debate (Update)

WASHINGTON (July 23, 2015) — The U.S. Senate voted 62-36 to invoke cloture and proceed to floor consideration of S. 22, its six-year transportation funding reauthorization bill.

The successful vote came one day after a 41-56 vote against proceeding to debate on the measure. Some senators, especially Democrats, objected that they received the text of the 1,000-plus-page bill only one hour before the scheduled vote. Under Senate rules, 60 votes are necessary to invoke cloture.

Though a six-year reauthorization, the legislation is funded only for three years, providing about $47 billion through changes to Social Security and other government programs. It contains a provision — supported by tire manufacturers but opposed by tire dealer groups — which among other things would require independent tire dealers and auto repairers to register every tire they sell, then transmit the information electronically to tire manufacturers.

The House of Representatives has already passed an $8.1 billion stopgap bill that would fund highway projects until Dec. 18. Current funding runs out July 31.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 1.4 million members throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, weighed in on the highway funding debate, issuing a statement calling for Congress to finally “buckle down” and find a long-term answer to the nation's infrastructure needs.

“Since 2008, Congress has transferred more than $62 billion from the general fund to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat, and it has been more than a decade since Congress has passed a highway bill that lasted longer than two years,” the Teamsters said. “Meanwhile, bridges like the one spanning busy Interstate 10 in Southern California that collapsed last weekend will continue to fall into disrepair.”

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said that “while some lawmakers seem content to ignore our broad transportation infrastructure needs, it is clear many U.S. roads and bridges don't have the luxury of time to be fixed.

“Congress must put aside partisan agendas and work together. No more delays and no more short-term patches.”

Though the Teamsters' statement commended the Senate for moving forward on a multi-year surface transportation bill, it said that “at the same time we must express disapproval of the inclusion of several provisions that denigrate highway and rail safety and put the lives of Teamster members and their families at greater risk. We will continue to address those issues as the legislation moves forward.

“Without long-term investments, states cannot commit to the infrastructure projects they desperately need. However, the inability of Republicans and Democrats to agree upon how to fund a multi-year surface transportation bill has left state governments and the millions of workers who benefit from infrastructure projects in limbo.”

Mr. Hoffa continued that “it's time for Congress to feel the need for speed.

“It must move swiftly to enact a comprehensive, long-term highway bill that will generate jobs and build, maintain and repair our ailing infrastructure. Let's get America working! But let's not compromise highway and rail safety and put workers and the public in harm's way to accomplish those goals.”