Source: Portland Cement Association

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved a “clean” 18-month extension of the surface transportation law, following the Obama Administration’s lead to delay action on a six-year authorization bill.

The draft extension bill authorizes $41 billion in FY 2010 and $20.5 billion in FY 2011 for highway programs, for which the EPW Committee has jurisdiction. The Senate Banking and Commerce Committees have jurisdiction over transit and safety issues, respectively, but have not yet taken action to extend these programs. The extension of these programs as well as a Senate Finance Committee package providing for a $20 billion bailout of the Highway Trust Fund will be merged with the EPW-passed legislation during Senate floor consideration. 

Meanwhile, the House is working on a multi-year funding bill and bailout of the nearly bankrupt Highway Trust Fund. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) is continuing to press forward with a multi-year bill.  Oberstar is working with the Ways and Means Committee and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to move a  $7.3 billion, stand-alone general fund bailout of the Highway Trust Fund by July 31 to address the immediate funding crisis.  The Highway Trust Fund is projected to run out of money by mid-August.