Sens. Tom Carper, Barbara Boxer Introduce Bill to Authorize Transportation Programs Into July
The top Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works panel unveiled legislation on May 14 that would extend surface transportation authorization into July, the same time a key highway account is projected to run low on funds.
The measure, sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Tom Carper of Delaware, also would call on congressional transportation authorizers to finish a multi-year highway bill and clear it for the president soon.
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“In the 10 months since the last short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund, we’ve come no closer to a solution for providing the long-term funding that is desperately needed to support a multiyear transportation bill. It’s clear to me that yet another long extension that patches the trust fund with an assortment of budget gimmicks only guarantees that we’ll push this issue right to the back burner, as we’ve done over and over again,” Carper said. “Our governors, mayors, citizens and businesses are counting on us to do better than we did last summer and give them the certainty they need for a 21st-century transportation system. I fear the alternative — kicking the can closer to another election — is a recipe for letting them down yet again.”
The Democrats’ bill comes a day after EPW's chairman, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), said he would schedule a markup in July on a six-year transportation bill.
With transportation funding authority expiring May 31, House GOP leaders are expected to offer a measure that ensures highway funding through December.
