Federal highway and transit programs will have their authorizations extended through Dec. 18, thanks to a stopgap spending package that Congress has approved. Final congressional action came on Oct. 29 when the Senate cleared the package by a 72-28 vote. That followed House passage earlier in the day, by a 247-178 tally.
The measure also provides full fiscal year 2010 appropriations for Interior Dept. and Environmental Protection Agency programs and extends funding through Dec. 18 for many other accounts for which Congress has yet to pass 2010 spending bills.