Jump-Starting TEA-21 Reauthorization: Next Steps? Road Gang Keynote to Call on Congress to Act Now on Highway Reauthorization

1/14/2004

From: Dennis S. Day of the Associated General Contractors of America, 703-837-5310

News Advisory:

The Associated General Contractors of America's (AGC's) Chief Executive Officer, Stephen E. Sandherr, will present the keynote address to the Road Gang in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) annual meeting and luncheon. Sandherr will call on Congress to "act now" on the reauthorization of the transportation bill to create jobs, stimulate the economy and fix the nation's interstate highway system. Federal aid to highways produces approximately 47,500 jobs created for every billion dollars spent. Failure to enact a comprehensive six-year reauthorization could result in the loss of 90,000 jobs. In addition, according to a study conducted for the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) by Global Insight, Inc., the survey found that the House reauthorization proposal would add $290 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and would add $98 billion to consumer spending -- more than $800 per household.

WHO:
Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC CEO

WHAT:
Keynote address to the Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board and Road Gang Luncheon.

WHEN:
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Doors Open at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Palladium Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham,
2500 Calvert St. NW, Washington, DC 20008

WHY:
The Road Gang is an informal group of business and government executives, highway engineers and consultants, press and public relations specialists from the highway transportation industry in the Washington, D.C area. The Road Gang, established in 1942, conducts regular informal luncheons and discussions on highway and transportation issues, particularly when legislative matters are pending before Congress.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a division of the National Research Council, serves as an independent adviser to the federal government and others on scientific and technical questions of national importance. The mission of the TRB is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States. AGC represents more than 35,000 firms, including 7,500 of America's leading general contractors, and over 12,000 specialty-contracting firms. Over 14,000 service providers and suppliers are associated with AGC through a nationwide network of chapters. Visit the AGC Web site at http://www.agc.org. AGC members are "Building Your Quality of Life."