On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to authorize and fund the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). The House bill would provide $10.8 billion through May 31, 2015, and would be offset through “pension smoothing,” an extension of expiring customs duties, and funding transfers from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. Prior to the House taking action on their HTF proposal, President Obama issued a policy statement in support of their funding measure.
On the Senate side, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) will likely push for three votes next week: one on the House-passed HTF bill, a second on the Senate Finance Committee bill (which is similar to the House proposal), and a third on Senator Boxer’s transportation spending bill that would extend the policy and spending programs through December 31, 2014. It is unclear at this time if Senator Reid will get the unanimous consent he needs to move his three vote plan forward, as Senate Republicans might object to his proposal in an effort to force a vote on the House-passed HTF funding bill. Additionally, it appears as through Senator Boxer’s HTF proposal has lost momentum, as Senate Republicans favor a longer term funding measure that would kick the can past the lame-duck session of Congress and into next year in hopes that they capture the Senate majority in the upcoming November elections.
RCRC and our federal advocates continue to closely monitor and report out on Congressional action to restore solvency to the troubled HTF, and will continue to engage in MAP-21 reauthorization discussions and efforts to restore dedicated funding to critical rural transportation programs.