Senate Panels Seek Six-Month Highway Bill Extension
The leaders of several key committees Tuesday urged the Senate to take up a six-month extension of the federal highway program.
A letter signed by the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Senate Environment and Public Works, Commerce, Banking and Finance Committees was sent Tuesday to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
It included a request to Senate leadership to file for cloture, which would allow for and debate on an extension and move it toward a final vote.
The Sept. 30 expiration of the federal highway bill “necessitated two short term extensions to the surface transportation program, attached to Continuing Resolutions. Short-term extensions mean less money is available for states, and do not provide states the certainty they need to keep crucial transportation projects moving forward,” the letter said.
Senate leaders including Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the top members of the committee, had been pushing for an 18-month extension, but in the letter they said that “on a bipartisan basis, we have decided to move forward with a 6-month extension.”
The House passed a three-month extension in late September.
By Sean McNally (Click here for previous coverage.)
Senior Reporter
