Senate Leaders Announce Tentative Highway Bill

Leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee announced April 10 that they have reached a deal in principle on a new six-year transportation bill that they aim to move to the floor this summer.
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Leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee announced April 10 that they have reached a deal in principle on a new six-year transportation bill that they aim to move to the floor this summer.

EPW Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Cali.) and ranking member David Vitter (R-La.) said they would move to mark up the bill in May.

The new six-year bill would authorize keeping current funding levels plus inflation and maintains existing formula programs. Sen. Boxer said the measure would need $16 billion a year above what is provided by the Highway Trust Fund, which is expected to run into the red this summer.

The Highway Trust Fund is set to go broke by July and road and transit policy expires at the end of September. Chairwoman Boxer has said that she wants to deal with policy and financing in one bill that is passed before the fund becomes insolvent. Although EPW is responsible for drafting highway policy, the Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over how to pay for it.

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