October 1, 2020

(Arlington, Virginia) — Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) today released a white paper titled “The INVEST in America Act and Surface Transport Infrastructure: Misplaced Priorities and the Need for Real Reform”

The paper, prepared by attorney and CASE co-founder Gerard Scimeca, highlights America’s ongoing surface transportation priorities and the role of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) as the primary funding mechanism for meeting the ongoing and future infrastructure needs of our nation.

With the recent signing of a continuing resolution to keep surface transportation funding in place through the next fiscal year, the opportunity now exists for a more thorough and comprehensive discussion on setting long-term funding and infrastructure goals and priorities.

The paper specifically reviews policy proposals as framed through the Invest in America Act, identifying areas where the Act is charting the right course and other areas where a course correction is in due order. Priority issues examined include:

· Infrastructure funding options and the decreasing value of the gas tax

· The current imbalance in the current funding equation between rail and trucking

· Regulatory restrictions that hamper progress in freight rail cost-efficiency

· The likely impact of current Congressional proposals