Rep. Brownley Introduces legislation to Increase Local Funding

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) has reintroduced HR 510, the ‘Support Local Transportation Act’. The legislation would direct more Federal Highway funds to regional and local municipalities. Within the Federal Highway program, the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program allocates billions of dollars annually to State and local governments to meet a wide variety of transportation needs.…

Legislative Alert — Tell FTA to Extend the Buy America Waiver for Mini-vans

Legislative Alert: Minivan Buy America Waiver In May 2016, the FTA issued a partial Buy America waiver for the procurement of minivans used in vanpool programs. Specifically, the notice waived steel content requirements.  FTA did, however, require final assembly in the United States. The waiver is limited to contracts entered before September 30, 2019 or…

House Ways & Means Hearing to Hold Hearing on Employee Benefits and Tax Reform

The House Ways & Means Oversight Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Ending the TCJA Tax on Houses of Worship, Charities, and Nonprofits.” The hearing will take place Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. in room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building. The Committee is inviting stakeholders to submit testimony. Details on testimony submission can…

House Transportation Committee Calls for Policy Input from Stakeholders – Action Alert

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is soliciting stakeholder input with regards to the Committee’s work on infrastructure within our jurisdiction this Congress. We encourage all stakeholders to submit policy priorities by email to TIStakeholders@mail.house.gov. The Committee will also be holding a Members’ Day Hearing for all Members of the House of Representatives to highlight…

Ask Congress to Tell the IRS to Tax Parking Fairly

Section 13304 of ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ (P.L 115-97) requires employers to add all costs associated with parking and commuter benefits to its tax liability. The IRS has released guidanceand request for comments on how employers are to calculate additional tax liability as a result of parking they provide. This guidance establishes a ‘primary use’…

Support Legislation to End the Penalty on Non-Profits for Offering Transportation Options

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law last December, more commonly referred to as tax reform, made several changes to the transportation fringe benefit (IRC Sec. 132(f)). The legislation maintained the parking and transit tax benefits for individuals.  However, it also made the transportation fringe benefit more expensive for non-profits and universities that…