Legislators, Transport Industry Officials Urge Highway Bill Passage This Summer

ASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers and transportation industry officials reiterated their determination to pass a new six-year highway spending bill this summer, despite talk among some lawmakers that Congress may extend the current plan for one year and take up the multiyear package again in 2004.

The $198 billion Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century, enacted in 1998, expires on Sept. 30. Lawmakers and transportation officials at a June 11-12 U.S. Chamber of Commerce seminar acknowledged time was running short and that reauthorization was controversial.

House transportation leaders have pushed for increases in federal fuel taxes to fund road building, but the Bush Administration and Senate leaders have proposed more modest plans that would avoid tax hikes.