WASHINGTON, March 29, 2012- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a 90-day extension today of the federal surface transportation programs. The House passed the short-term transportation measure by 266-158 before leaving Washington, DC for the Easter Recess. The Senate is expected to pass the measure this afternoon.
This marks the ninth time a short-term extension had to be passed to prevent the nation’s transportation programs from shutting down.
"Because current funding expires on March 31st, there is unfortunately no choice but for Congress to pass the ninth extension of this vital national program. But enough is enough,” said Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater. “The House must act immediately within this extension period to pass its highway bill and move to conference with the Senate.”
House Speaker John Boehner had originally worked for a five-year, $260 billion that he planned to pay for with legislation increasing domestic oil drilling, but he was unable to win support from his GOP caucus. Republicans have also been unwilling to take up the $109 billion, two-year Senate bill, which does not include expanded offshore drilling and approval of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas.
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