As federal highway and transit programs’ funding authority nears a July 31 expiration, Congress is laboring to find a fix. House Republicans proposed a five-month extension, and the Senate has moved a key part of a six-year bill through committee. Construction and state transportation officials don’t want to see funds cut off. But it is unclear whether the two chambers can strike a deal in time.
To keep funds flowing, House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) on July 13 rolled out an $8.1-billion stopgap provision that would run through Dec. 18. They also said they’re seeking to use those five months to help produce a longer-range transportation bill, lasting up to six years.