With December fast approaching, congressional leaders are rushing to finalize an ambitious to-do list that includes tax reform, funding for the federal government, immigration policy and disaster relief for regions struck by hurricanes. Here's the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive additional funds to help agencies there pay for highway infrastructure that was damaged by back-to-back hurricanes in September, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Nov. 22.

Passage of a Republican-led tax reform bill will kick off negotiations on an infrastructure funding measure that transportation leaders and President Donald Trump argue is badly needed for improving connectivity across freight corridors.

Republican leaders say they lack time to finalize fiscal 2018 funding legislation by Dec. 8, which is when funding for the federal government is set to expire, which could limit the chances of advancing a truck-centric meal and rest break provision.

The nominee to lead the country’s regulatory agency for commercial trucks and buses is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate before the end of the year, aides familiar with the nomination told Transport Topics on Nov. 20.

To help Oregon fix freight corridors and surface infrastructure damaged by natural disasters, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the state $2.6 million, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said this week.

A tax reform measure in the Senate would retain an infrastructure financing tool the private sector says helps advance big-ticket projects, while a similar House-passed bill would eliminate it.

The number of truck drivers wearing safety belts increased by more than 20% since 2007, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.