House, Senate Pass 7th Extension for Highway, Transit Programs
With no deal yet in sight on a multi-year transportation bill, Congress has approved another stopgap to keep federal highway and transit money flowing. The new, 30-day extension would be the seventh stopgap since Sept. 30, 2003, when the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the last big highway and transit statute, expired.
The Senate approved the extension on May 26 by voice vote; the House passed it the previous evening. The legislation next will go to the White House for President Bush's signature. Without a new bill, transportation programs lapse on May 31. Congress completed action on the extension the day before the start of its Memorial Day recess.