President Signs Highway Trust Fund Fix

Following House and Senate passage of legislation transferring $7 billion of general fund revenue to the Highway Trust Fund, President Obama signed the bill into law (Public Law: 111-046) on August 7, 2009.  The $7 billion dollar transfer allows state transportation departments to receive full reimbursements for federal-aid highway projects through the end of fiscal year 2009 (September 30). When Congress returns in September, they must take action to reauthorize federal highway and transit programs past the September 30 expiration date of SAFETEA-LU.  Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, is committed to bringing a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill to the House floor for a vote prior to the expiration of SAFETEA-LU, while the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders - with the exception of Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) - support an 18-month extension of the current authorization. For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.