The House approved a two-month extension of funding for transportation projects. The extension, which passed 387-35 will continue funding for the Highway Trust Fund through July 31. The bill now goes to the Senate for approval.
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, supported the Republican-sponsored legislation for short-term financing.
He urged that Democrats spend the 60 extra days finding a permanent funding solution for the transportation program, which has relied on gas taxes that have not been increased since 1993 and can no longer keeping up with the nation’s transportation needs.
“We believe very strongly that it is time to come to grips with a responsible, paid-for, effective, long-term extension of the highway bill,” Hoyer said.
Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the House majority leader suggested there might be a struggle within the Senate by saying he would like to pair consideration of a long-term highway bill with tax reform.
“This is not the time to slow this down,” said Representative Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and one of two Republicans who introduced the bill. “This is the time to get it done so we can get it to the Senate as quickly as possible.”
Hoyer said that while he supports comprehensive tax reform and would consider such a plan, that he was skeptical that Republicans could deliver a plan with broad appeal within 60 days.
