Transport Bill Conference Finally to Begin, After Senate Standoff Ends
The long-delayed House and Senate conference to draft a multi-year transportation bill finally is on the road to beginning after Senate Republican and Democratic leaders settled a disagreement that had blocked progress on the legislation.
The Senate had approved a $318-billion measure in February, and the House had passed a $284-billion bill in early April. The next step normally would be a joint House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences between their respective versions. But since the House approved its bill, there has been almost no progress, because Senate Democrats had refused to agree to let the chamber name its conferees. That put things on hold.