House Democrats Unveil $494-Billion Surface Transportation Bill

Led by Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the INVEST in America Act is a proposed $494-billion, five-year surface transportation bill, which includes a 46% increase in spending for highway and transit programs. The prime components of the bill are:

The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) fully supports the introduction of the INVEST in America Act by House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio. The impact of COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on minorities in the transportation industry and the areas they serve. The INVEST in America Act and the increased funding for public transit options are critical to serving the needs of the minority workforce and the agencies that serve them in urban, suburban and rural areas.

Please call your member of Congress to show your support. Let them know you support the INVEST in America Act!

Greeting COMTO Family,

As you know, COMTO has been a strong supporter of the of the $760 Billion Moving Forward Framework proposed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that would make transformative infrastructure investments across the U.S. This legislation will provide critical support to all modes of the transportation industry as well as offset some of the extraordinary direct costs and revenue losses which have occurred in response to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

1. To create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly
2. To mend and ensure perpetuation of the DBE program
3. To make the DBE program more effective and efficient for all participants

• COMTO members should prepare letters for submission to the T&I Committee as testimony of the success of the DBE program.
• Please address your letter or statement to The Honorable Peter DeFazio, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, The United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.Send your letter to COMTO National at info@comto.org by July 15, 2020. COMTO National will compile the letters and present them directly to the staff at the Committee.
• Please state that you are responding to the request from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for a letter or statement on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.
• Please be sure to put on letterhead and include your company’s name, specific projects if applicable and the COMTO chapter with which you are associated.
• The body of your letter or statement should articulate your experience, and examples of discrimination before, during and after your company’s participation in the DBE program. Include if applicable, access to capital, bonding, experiences dealing with your State’s Department of Transportation certification process, other entities with a certification based on the DBE program, and relationship with general/prime contractors.
• Please include any procurement issues you may have had with your general/prime. It is very important to include how the program enhanced your company’s opportunities in the highway, transit and airport construction industries and the consequences if the program were not to receive reauthorization.