Senate moves to extend highway programs as Congress continues work on long-term reauthorization

The Senate has included a short-term extension of expiring surface transportation programs in a broader government funding bill that is expected to pass this week. If enacted, the extension would move the deadline for a new highway bill from September 30 to December 12.

The House approved its own continuing resolution before its August recess, but that measure did not include a surface transportation extension. If the Senate passes its version as expected, the House will need to approve the Senate bill after returning to Washington in late August.

The brevity of the proposed extension is consistent with the approach championed by congressional leaders. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) have said that any extension should be limited and serve only to give Congress time to complete a long-term surface transportation reauthorization this year.

NAPA remains focused on securing swift House passage of the BUILD America 250 Act , a five-year $580 billion bipartisan reauthorization bill that passed the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee 62-2 in May, while continuing to advocate for a robust long-term surface transportation bill in the Senate.

“A short-term extension is not a substitute for the long-term certainty both states and industry require to invest in their communities and our highway system,” Audrey Copeland, NAPA President and CEO, said in a statement. “We remain hopeful that this extra time spurs Congress to enact the BUILD America 250 Act this year. NAPA and our dedicated members are ready to engage with lawmakers to finish the job and get to work.”

NAPA continues advocacy push for long-term reauthorization

NAPA has advocated with lawmakers across Congress—including T&I Chair Sam Graves, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Rep. Pete Stauber (left picture) and EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (right)—to advance a long-term surface transportation reauthorization and will continue those efforts.

Support for completing a long-term highway bill remains broad.

Approximately 4 in 5 voters support passing a surface transportation reauthorization on time, according to a recent Associated General Contractors of America/Morning Consult poll. Likewise, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged Congress to complete a multi-year bill.

“We continue to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive, multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that provides predictable funding for the Nation’s vital transportation network,” Duffy wrote to Senate leaders ahead of their August recess.

Nile Elam, Vice President of Government Affairs, stressed that NAPA’s priority remains securing enactment of a long-term highway bill before Congress concludes its work for the year.

“The BUILD America 250 Act provides the bipartisan framework to deliver the investment, funding certainty, and key policy reforms the asphalt pavement industry has long championed and our country requires to remain best in class,” Elam said. “We look forward to working with Congress to get this crucial legislation across the finish line this year.”

NAPA continues to advocate aggressively for passage of the BUILD America 250 Act through direct engagement with Congress, coalition partnerships, strategic communications, and grassroots outreach.

So far in 2026, NAPA has hosted more than 20 congressional asphalt plant tours—with more planned this year—and hosted or participated in four congressional briefings focused on highway reauthorization in the past month.

NAPA members can support these efforts by following NAPA’s Highway Bill Tracker, reviewing our BUILD America 250 summary, and using our grassroots letter to encourage Congress to finish the job.