Funding

Senate EPW Committee pushing for another highway-funding extension

Aug. 23, 2011

Word out of Washington is that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is working on proposing a four-month extension of the highway bill. The latest extension expires on Sept. 30.

EPW Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is expected to ask that the Highway Trust Fund programs continue to be funded at current levels with no policy changes until the end of January.

Word out of Washington is that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is working on proposing a four-month extension of the highway bill. The latest extension expires on Sept. 30.

EPW Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is expected to ask that the Highway Trust Fund programs continue to be funded at current levels with no policy changes until the end of January.

A Congressional committee, which was formed as part of the debt-limit deal, is expected to meet and discuss further deficit cuts before the year is out. No word as to how that might affect the transportation-funding crisis.

President Barack Obama continues to push for more infrastructure spending in the hopes of creating more jobs to help a struggling economy. However, it is unclear as to how the ultra-conservative Republican Party will respond to such a call. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair John Mica (R-Fla.) has not announced any intentions to extend the highway program beyond Sept. 30.

The National League of Cities warned that the next extension could be different than the others.