SMA president Philip K. Bell issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) unanimous bipartisan passage (20-0 vote) of the $303.5 billion Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (STRA) of 2021.

According to Bell, “With passage of this important bill from committee, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), federal agencies and state DOT’s will have funding for critical investments that will repair and rebuild America’s highways, roads and bridges. The five-year authorization provides the level of certainty needed to pursue long-range projects. The domestic procurement preferences in the bill, via Buy America, will ensure that U.S. companies will have the first opportunity to supply the materials used to build our highways, roads, bridges. Surface transportation effectiveness helps our nation compete globally. It is my sincere hope that a similar bipartisan effort is put forth to secure this long-term, well-funded, comprehensive infrastructure package in the Senate.”