WASHINGTON — Congressional policymakers plan to have a multiyear highway bill ready on Nov. 30, the chairman of the House transportation panel said Nov. 18.
Transportation leaders will put the finishing touches on the expansive highway policy bill over the next two weeks. A meeting between House and Senate transportation leaders on Nov. 18 signaled progress in resolving differences in the chambers' versions of the bill.
The final bill is expected to include reforms to a controversial safety performance scoring program for motor carriers as well as multiyear funding for infrastructure projects.
An extension of funding authority for highway programs through Dec. 4, expected to be approved before a Nov. 20 funding deadline, is designed to give lawmakers more time to finalize a bill, said Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
"We have our differences with the Senate's bill, but that's why we're here," Shuster said. "We've already made some very good progress in working through some of our differences, and I look forward to finishing our work on a final measure that helps improve America's infrastructure."
Reforms to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance, Safety, Accountability scoring program are among the provisions transportation leaders are looking to include in a final highway bill. Many in the trucking industry are critical of CSA.
