House Approves Three-Month Highway Funding Extension
The House of Representatives this week approved a three-month extension of the federal highway funding law.
The bill, which runs through Dec. 30, would prevent funding for various highway and transit programs from expiring on Sept. 30.
In the 335-85 House vote, 86 Republican representatives bucked their party’s leadership in voting for a bill by House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) that would keep highway funding at current levels, under a procedure that required a two-thirds House majority.
Oberstar’s push for a six-year, $450 billion bill was bolstered earlier in the week, when several business groups said they would agree to raising fuel taxes if the bill made changes that cut congestion and trimmed other costs.
The Senate has yet to vote on an extension bill. Three Senate committees have voted to support an 18-month extension of federal highway funding, which is also supported by the Obama administration and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
By Transport Topics
Senior Reporter Sean McNally contributed to this story.
