Industry Wire

Extensions Fund Federal Highway Program

The U.S. Congress has approved a series of Continuing Resolutions (CR) to extend funding under the current highway authorization program that was due to expire on September 30, 2009. The first CR was passed on September 30, the end of the 2009 fiscal year and the expiration date of the current highway authorization known as the SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users) program. On October 29, Congress passed a second CR that continued funding at FY 2009 levels for most federal programs which includes the highway authorization until December 18, 2009. On Wednesday, December 16, a five day CR was passed by the U.S. House to extend SAFETEA-LU and Department of Defense Appropriations until December 23, 2009, in order to give the Senate more time to consider HR 3326, the Defense Appropriations bill.

Following passage of the 5 day CR, Congress passed HR 3326, the Defense Appropriations bill that includes a two month extension of SAFETEA-LU, on Saturday, December 19. Passage of HR 3326 means that SAFETEA-LU will continue to be funded at FY 2009 levels until February 28, 2010. Also passed on Wednesday, December 16 was HR 3326, the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010, which would extend SAFETEA-LU until September 30, 2010. The Jobs for Main Street Act is not expected to be considered in the Senate until after the holidays.

Leading up to the September 30 deadline, the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) had been calling for passage of a six year, $500 million authorization of a new highway program before SAFETEA-LU reached its expiration at the end of fiscal year 2009 on September 30. The Obama administration and Senate leadership had been pushing an 18 month extension of SAFETEA-LU. However, the only extensions that have been passed by Congress to this point are the Continuing Resolutions.

Passage of the five day CR by the House on December 16 gives the Senate time to consider HR 3326, and if passed, continue SAFETEA-LU until the end of February. After the holidays, the Senate will consider HR 2847, which would be a 12 month extension of SAFETEA-LU (September 30, 2009 to September 30, 2010).

For questions about the federal highway program, please contact TRALA’s Joe Sculley at jsculley@trala.org or (703) 299-9120.