By a vote of 88-7 the Senate approved the FY 2008 transportation appropriations bill Sept. 12. An amendment offered by transportation subcommittee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to add $1 billion in funding to address structurally deficient bridges was approved by a vote of 60-33. The bill fully funds the SAFETEA-LU guaranteed funding level of $40.2 billion for the highway program and, with the additional bridge funding, brings the grand total in highway program funds to $41.2 billion. This is a $2.1 billion increase over the FY 2007 level.