Industry also likes Senate provisions to simplify the surface-transportation bureaucracy by trimming roughly 90 categories and programs to fewer than 30. The bill also would speed up project approvals by such actions as expediting environmental reviews.

The Senate bill's path wasn't easy. It moved to the floor on Feb. 7, but later that month Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) proposed an amendment to undo Obama administration policy on contraceptives. Reid and his allies blocked the plan March 1. But they faced a new hurdle when lawmakers insisted on offering a batch of other amendments, many of which had no link to roads or transit lines.

Reid solved that problem by cutting a deal on March 7 with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on which amendments could be offered.

The Senate ended up rejecting most of the 30 or so amendments on the list. One failed amendment sought to authorize construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline project. Another proposed to give the Environmental Protection Agency more time to issue new rules governing Maximum Achievable Control Technology to limit air emissions from boilers and solid-waste incinerators.

One construction-related rider that the Senate cleared would direct 80% of the penalties that could be levied against BP for the 2010 Gulf oil spill to restore the Gulf Coast economy and ecology. The amount for Gulf restoration could range from $4.3 billion to $16.9 billion."The current plan is to see what the Senate can produce and to bring their bill up."

Senate Construction-Related Floor Amendments

Approved

Direct 80% of any oil-spill penalties assessed to BP to restoring the Gulf Coast economy and ecosystem. Could raise $4.3 billion to $16.9 billion.