Clean Transportation Groups Express Concern About Proposed Surface Transportation Extension
August 5, 2026
In response to the surface transportation reauthorization extension that passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee this week, several clean transportation advocacy groups issued the following statement:
We, the undersigned organizations, share concerns with the Senate Appropriations Committee's proposed surface transportation infrastructure extension. We commend the bipartisan work in this bill for several important steps to protect key programs and previously awarded grants from cancellation for political reasons. However, while these commonsense protections must be preserved, they cannot justify massive reductions in infrastructure investment. Reducing investment in the transportation system Americans and businesses rely on every day reflects deeply misplaced priorities and a reversal from the commitment to investing at home that voters were promised.
Americans overwhelmingly support infrastructure improvements, but this proposal would reduce authorized funding for reliable and affordable transportation systems by $7 billion through December 11th, a roughly 27 percent cut. Cutting infrastructure investments is exactly the wrong approach. Congress must include all advanced appropriations commitments and funding levels included in Division J agreed to by Congress under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Congress must preserve America's commitment to investing in our transportation system, and reject proposals that would reduce funding for these vital programs. Transportation remains one of the largest expenses in a household budget and investments in modernizing our roads, bridges, public transit, and passenger rail lower transportation costs, keep goods moving, and strengthen local economies. Yet this proposal slashes investment at a time when families are facing $4.10 per gallon for gasoline, more than 42,000 bridges remain in poor condition, transit agencies face a repair backlog exceeding $140 billion, and nearly 40,000 people are killed on our roadways each year. These challenges demand more investment, not less.
We urge Congress to include an additional across-the-board extension of all advanced appropriations commitments and funding levels under Division J as part of this package. American families, workers, and businesses cannot afford to fall further behind. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure more transportation infrastructure investment, not less.
Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet
CALSTART
Ceres
East Metro Strong
Environmental Law & Policy Center
GreenLatinos
League of Conservation Voters
Native Sun Community Power Development
Plug In America
Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Club
Smart Freight Centre
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Southern Environmental Law Center
Transportation for America
Union of Concerned Scientists
Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Association