Senators Barrasso and Carper; Representatives Shuster and DeFazio; Sec. Chao, Speaking Today

WASHINGTON – Hundreds of attendees from 45 state departments of transportation and the transportation industry are this week taking part in the 2018 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing being held at the Washington Court Hotel, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

Transportation infrastructure investment is a central issue at this year’s Washington Briefing. Addressing the long-term needs of the federal Highway Trust Fund remains a top priority for AASHTO and its members. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Highway Trust Fund, which supports Federal highway and transit programs, will become insolvent at the end of federal Fiscal Year 2020.

Speaking this morning about their congressional leadership priorities for 2018, are Sen. John Barrasso, (R-Wyo.) Chairman, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) Ranking Member, Senate EPW Committee; Rep. Bill Shuster, (R-Penn.) Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and Rep. Peter DeFazio, (D-Ore.) Ranking Member, House T&I Committee. Also today, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao will deliver the luncheon keynote address.

Video of both events will be live-streamed. Use the following website link to watch the live-stream broadcast: https://tinyurl.com/yc6udeft. After the speeches have been delivered on Wednesday, video recordings of each speaker will be posted on AASHTO’s Transportation TV and YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/tLNGgw.

On Thursday, March 1, the luncheon keynote address will be delivered by D.J. Gribbin, Special Assistant to the President for Infrastructure Policy.