House to Consider Short-Term Highway Funding Extension Oct. 27
Funding authority for highway programs would be extended through Nov. 20 under legislation scheduled for floor consideration Oct. 27, according to a schedule released by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
The legislation would ensure the continuation of the Highway Trust Fund’s authorization, which expires Oct. 29. States depend on the trust fund to finance big-ticket infrastructure programs. The bill will be considered under suspension of the House rules, an expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.
Under the bill, railroads would have until 2018 to implement positive train control technology, or PTC. Most railroads have indicated they will not make a Dec. 31 deadline to implement the PTC technology designed to automatically slow down or stop a train.
The bill’s sponsor, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), has indicated his House colleagues would back this latest highway funding extension.
“This legislation also includes a necessary, bipartisan extension of the deadline for implementation of positive train control technology. This language was also unanimously approved by the transportation committee last week. We need to extend the positive train control deadline as soon as possible to prevent significant disruptions of both passenger and freight rail service across the country. The sooner we extend this deadline, the more certainty we will give our agricultural, manufacturing, and chemical industries to ensure there will be no supply-chain disruptions,” Shuster said.
Senators also are expected to vote favorably for the bill when it reaches the upper chamber. If signed into law, the measure would mark the 35th time Congress has approved a short-term fix for highway programs since 2009.
Last week, Shuster’s panel passed a six-year highway policy bill. The measure awaits floor consideration. In July, the Senate advanced its version.
