Senate Transport Conferees Propose $290 Billion, Down $5 Billion From Earlier Bill
Seeking a compromise with the House on a much-delayed transportation bill, Senate negotiators have proposed that the measure contain $290 billion in total guaranteed funding. That represents a $5-billion reduction from the version that the chamber passed in May, says Bill Holbrook, spokesman for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The new proposal is about $6 billion higher than the guaranteed funding in the House's $284-billion bill.T
The Senate made its proposal on June 20 to the House side of a joint conference committee formed to reconcile the chambers' differing version of the sweeping, multi-year transportation measure. As of mid-day June 21, the House conferees had not responded to the Senate offer, says Holbrook. He adds that the Senate side is "optimistic that we'll be able to have the legislation completed by the end of the month."