Recently, the members of the Congressional Transportation
Conference Committee agreed on a bicameral long term transportation
reauthorization bill. House GOP leaders now have until
Saturday at midnight to approve the bill prior to the expiration of
the current financing measure. The two year bill, which would
provide $8.4 billion in funding each year, is similar in structure
to a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate earlier this
year. Industry leaders have been particularly vocal in
encouraging the passage of a multi-year bill as another short-term
extension would leave many projects around the country in
jeopardy. Additionally, the transportation legislation will
include a one-year freeze for government subsidized student loan
rates. Off the hill, the TSA allows an additional airport to
hire private screeners and states continue to look for alternative
solutions to meet infrastructure needs in a difficult economic
climate.
