Published in Last Word
The Senate approved an ACEC-backed $8.1 billion patch to the Highway Trust Fund, adopting a shorter extension than the House in order to force action on a multi-year bill to reauthorize MAP-21 before the end of the year.
Senators adopted several amendments to the House-passed bill (H.R. 5021), including modifications to the offsetting revenue provisions, reducing the transfer by $3 billion and shortening the length of the extension from May 30, 2015 to December 19th of this year.
The Senate also soundly rejected an amendment from Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) to phase down the federal gas tax and turn over funding responsibility to the states. ACEC strongly opposed the “devolution” proposal, which was defeated 28-69.
Action returns to the House, which could vote as early as Thursday on whether to accept the Senate changes or insist on an extension through May of next year. Congressional leaders in both houses have indicated their intention to complete action on a short-term fix will before the U.S. DOT will be forced to ration and delay payments to states in August.
#Transportation