The House has passed a six-year, $325 billion transportation bill.
On a 363-64 vote, members approved the package of $261 billion for highways and $55 billion for transit. While the bill authorizes funding for six years, it only pays for three. It requires Congress to come up with a way to fund the final three years.
The Senate version of the bill is for six years and only funds three but has no requirement that Congress find a way to pay for the final three years.
The House bill also reauthorizes the Export-Import bank charter which expired in June.
The two bills now go to a conference committee with a Nov. 20 deadline for completion to avoid a gap in highway funding.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers president Dennis Slater praised the action saying the long-term bill will spur investments into rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Philip Ellis says he is disappointed that the bill does not raise the weight limits for trucks on federal highways.
National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling says while they are disappointed the weight limit measure was defeated, they are happy to see Congress moving forward on long-term highway funding.
Wisconsin Congressman Reid Ribble, author of the amendment to increase the weight limits, has been named to the conference committee.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com