White House ‘Encouraged’ by Floor Consideration of Highway Bill

The Obama administration signaled its support for a multiyear highway policy bill the House will start considering Nov. 3.

The White House backing comes despite noting “significant shortcomings” with the reauthorizing legislation, especially a decrease in funding authority for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or TIFA, loan assistance program managed by the Department of Transportation.

“TIFIA has supported many of the nation’s largest and most innovative public-private partnerships [P3s] and enjoys immense support among local and state governments,” the administration said in a statement released by the Office of Management and Budget on Nov. 2. “Through TIFIA, federal dollars are leveraged 10 to one, providing a strong return on investment.”

In the statement, the administration also expressed concern with the bill’s provision that aims to modify the regulatory process at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The bill’s floor manager, chairman of the House transportation panel Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), praised the legislation Nov. 3 during a morning press conference with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and the chamber’s Republican leadership team.

“This is important to the economy, for the jobs and the American competitiveness for us to rebuild and expand our infrastructure in this country that so badly needs it,” Shuster said. The bill’s floor passage is expected to happen before the end of the week.