WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told mayors from around the country that if they are looking to advance public works projects in their municipalities that help trucking and other sectors they need the support from their members of Congress.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the transportation policy committee in the House, said there is not enough congressional support to approve an increase of fuel taxes to pay for infrastructure projects vital to the trucking industry.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the transportation policy-writing Environment and Public Works committee, said he will ask senators to consider a variety of funding proposals to advance a five-year highway bill this year.

In his State of the Union address Jan. 20, President Obama sought to reassure Americans that his administration is determined to finance big-ticket infrastructure projects with Congress’ help to boost key industries such as trucking and construction. 

The Obama administration on Jan. 16 announced it would create a municipal bond and approve other proposals to fund big-ticket infrastructure projects, four days before the president’s State of the Union address.

Less than a week after she announced she would not seek another term in the Senate, California Democrat Barbara Boxer urged GOP leaders to turn their attention to funding the country’s aging transportation system.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) this week introduced a bill that would replace the diesel and gas tax with a carbon tax, the latest congressional proposal aimed at boosting transportation dollars ahead of the reauthorization of a major highway law this spring.