Builders to fight funding change

A group representing Long Island road builders has joined in a nationwide effort to prevent proposed changes in the way the U.S. government pays to construct and repair highways and bridges.

The Long Island Contractors’ Association says it wants to “block a proposed repeal of guaranteed federal funding that protects and strengthens our nation's highway system."
The changes were outlined in December by Republican Party leaders who will soon control the House of Representatives.

The association says the GOP leadership has already indicated, in its proposed set of House rules, that it will stop the direct flow of federal gasoline taxes to the Highway Trust Fund. Instead, highway construction funding would become part of the overall Congressional budget appropriations process, the contractors said in an open letter released this week.

The contractors’ appeal was also endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which typically is aligned with the GOP. Numerous other transportation and trucking associations also endorsed it.

Long Island Contractors’ Association officials could not be reached for comment Friday. LICA’s partners include the General Contractors Association of New York, the Construction Industry Council, and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of New York State.