Following AGC and our transportation and construction industry allies spending the last several weeks educating Members of Congress on the impact that failure to pass an extension would have on state DOTs and the construction industry, the House and the Senate each passed H.R. 662, extending federal surface transportation program funding through September 30, 2011.
The highway and transit programs are currently operating under the sixth authorization extension which is set to expire on Friday, March 4.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday, by a vote of 421 to 4. The four no-votes were as follows: Reps. Amash (R-Mich), Polis (D-Col), Flake (R-Arz) and Stearns (R-Fla). The Senate passed the bill this afternoon by a voice-vote.
With a long-term extension in place Congress will be able to focus on moving a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill. AGC will continue to work closely with key Members of Congress in the House and Senate to ensure the best interests of the construction industry are represented in the next authorization bill.
For more information contact Sean O’Neill at oneills@agc.org 202-547-8892