Senate approves extension; House votes on its next move

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved a five-month extension of federal highway and mass transit programs. Today the House of Representatives is considering H.R. 3087, which also is a five-month extension of the TEA-21 bill. Federal funding will cease on Sept. 30 if Congress does not approve an extension.

"An extension is critical to keep the 'lights on' at the Federal Highway Administration and to keep highway construction from coming to a screeching halt," said Stephen Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America. "Once Congress passes an extension, they need to immediately turn their sights on enacting a comprehensive surface transportation bill that will bolster our economy, protect and create good-paying jobs and improve our roads and bridges."

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are working in a bipartisan way to fund TEA-21 reauthorization at $375 billion over six years. The investment in highways and mass transit would create an additional 1.3 million jobs, while working to improve one-third of America's roads, bridges, transit vehicles and facilities that are in poor condition.