Transportation Bill Conferees Begin Talks, No Progress on Funding Gap
Funding remained the central, still unresolved, issue as House and Senate negotiators began formal meetings aimed at producing a final version of a multi-year transportation bill. The opening session of the conference committee, held June 9, amounted to little more than a long collection of statements by House and Senate lawmakers. Conferees reached no agreements on any issues, except to approve House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) as chairman of the conference committee and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) as the vice-chairman.
Key lawmakers talked about the need to finish the bill, which has been delayed since Sept. 30, 2003, when the preceding Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, expired. Since then seven extensions have kept the federal highway and transit programs operating. The latest stopgap runs out on June 30. Young told conferees, "There will be no more extensions."