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The legislators pushed the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to accelerate the federally funded infrastructure projects in a recent Meeting of the Environment Committee and Public Works of the Senateas they begin to develop the next bill of Multi -ear surface transport.
The Investment and Infrastructure jobs law of 2021 added about $ 550 million to reference financing levels and included a five -year re -authorization of the federal road, traffic and other infrastructure programs that will expire at the end of September 2026. The financing infusion helped improve The condition of the United States’s infrastructure, but there is a continuous support to maintain progress and meet new challenges, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
No one presented an amount in dollar for the next project of re -authorization of surface transport in view of April 2, although those who testified seemed to agree on the importance of the infrastructure.
“The infrastructure is not a partisan,” said Duffy. “We all use roads and bridges in blue and red states, and I am committed to ensuring that we have a non -supportive vision as we move money.”
Concern for the review of the grant
Several senators asked Duffy about the status of infrastructure projects in their states of origin, and why some already approved projects are frozen while agencies review them for mentions of climate change, environmental justice or equity. The Order of President Donald Donald Trump “Unleasing American Energy” stopped the Funds of the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Law while Federal agencies examine compliance with projects with his agenda of policies.
Since he assumed the post, Duffy has authorized a series of actions To move forward in Trump’s directive to “terminate the policies of awakening” and Slash’s regulations. Last month, the The US Dot retreated a policy of Biden’s time This included environmental and social considerations for project funds. Duffy testified that he fulfills Congress’s will to get them out of federal subsidies.
“If you have additional requirements regarding green or social justice, but the cost of a project increases. This requires a longer time project to complete,” said Duffy.
Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said that some projects that were held in his state due to the review are coming. However, the Democratic Senator, Alex Padilla, of California, said that some of the projects of his state are still frozen, and Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz, said that the review has caused a “major interruption” to some of the state’s infrastructure efforts, such as the 22nd replacement of the street bridge in Tucson.
The Secretary of Transport said that the money that has been forced to continue to leave, but repeatedly emphasized that the dowry has a historical number of projects signed, currently about 3,200, waiting for subsidies agreements.
“The grant agreements are the work. I will have it, but it will happen to me,” said Duffy. “We move quickly for these subsidies and make sure we have funding for what has been granted.”
Duffy did not say if the Grant Awards are not yet completed could be terminated, but promulgated the will of Congress when financed the infrastructure: “I’m not going to celebrate any project.”
Allowing changes in advance?
Several republican members focused on issues with the project’s permission process, saying that environmental rules such as the National Environmental Policy Law can cause delays. Duffy agreed, saying that these regulations have become a “weight in our neck as we try to build infrastructure”.
“We are going to work on the reform of the NEPA in this administration,” said Duffy. “I think there is bipartisan support for reform in this space so that we can move the projects faster and more cheaper.”
When Sullivan asked Duffy if he would support the legislation that exempted the bridges reconstructed in the same site of the NEPA review, Duffy replied: “100%.”
Duffy also expressed support for changing the regulatory power of federal government projects in the states to accelerate the construction process.
“What is important for the [Transportation] The Department rationalizes the process for the states, to get as much weight as possible so that they can build faster and spend more time to do dirt and less time doing procedures, “said Duffy.” We have been trying to transfer more authority to the states, because they transfer the faster projects than they have happened to the federal government. “
