House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) pledged to fight colleagues' attempts to repeal highway and transit funds aimed at offsetting federal Hurricane Katrina response costs, and contended that creative financing and tolling will help fill funding gaps in remaining Safe, Accountable, Flexible Transportation Efficiency Act fiscal years (2006-2009).

Rep. Young addressed a record gathering of 300-plus industry leaders during the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's 17th Annual Public-Private Ventures in Transportation Conference, Oct. 6-7, in Washington, D.C. His observations on highway and transit funding were offered in response to a Republican Study Committee proposal hacking $25 billion in SAFETEA-earmark projects. RSC's “Operation Offset” strategy seeks to curtail programmed federal spending in light of the federal government's post-hurricane recovery and rebuilding tab.