Lawmakers Eye Short-Term Bridge for Highway Trust Fund

June 20, 2014

Lawmakers are eyeing a short-term patch to the dwindling Highway Trust Fund in an effort to keep infrastructure funds flowing while they work on a longer-term solution, BNA has reported.

BNA reported June 17 that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said he continues to huddle with colleagues on a variety of ideas for short-term funding and a longer-term solution. Sen. Wyden did not specify preferred funding mechanisms.

“I see a growing interest among members in terms of taking care of the short term, which is essentially the [next] six months, and then trying to find a way to the extent possible to use that six months as a springboard to a broader set of reforms,” Wyden said.

Sen. Wyden has said previously that he aims to mark up a bill before the Senate recesses for the July 4 holiday.

The Department of Transportation estimates that the Highway Trust Fund will fall below a required $4 billion by July 25.

The current surface transportation law, MAP-21, expires Sept. 30.

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman's photo

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman develops and executes communications strategies to advance NATSO’s public relations and advocacy goals. Tiffany also develops and oversees partnerships related to the NATSO Foundation’s public outreach initiatives. Tiffany lives in the D.C. metro area with her husband and their two sons.More
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