House passes highway extension, NAPA pushes for long-term reauthorization
The House passed a highway bill extension through Dec. 11, giving lawmakers an additional 10 weeks to complete a long-term surface transportation reauthorization.
The extension was included in a broader government funding bill that also expires Dec. 11. The House approved the measure 370-48 on Sept. 1. The bill, passed by the Senate Aug. 8, now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland said in a statement that states and infrastructure partners need a comprehensive bill that provides the certainty needed to invest in and improve the nation’s highway system.
“We strongly urge lawmakers in both chambers to use the additional time to pass the long-term, robust bill our nation needs, and NAPA and our members are eager to help Congress reach that goal,” Copeland said.
Lawmakers now have about 100 days to address the expiring programs. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told POLITICO that he would push to pass a surface transportation reauthorization bill in the lame duck period after the Midterms.
“It is a big priority for us, there’s some great policy in there, and we’re gonna work aggressively to get it done” this year, Johnson told POLITICO.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) called passage of the extension “important,” though said he remains focused on completing a reauthorization bill.
“Passing a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill before the end of this Congress remains a top priority for me and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” Graves said.
NAPA is urging Congress to pass a long-term, robust reauthorization package. “Because what Congress does in these few short months will impact our communities for years and decades to come, legislators must pass a long-term reauthorization this year,” Copeland added.
NAPA remains strongly supportive of the BUILD America 250 Act, the surface transportation reauthorization package passed by the T&I 62-2 in May.
“The BUILD America 250 Act provides a strong, bipartisan foundation for delivering a meaningful investment in our critical highway system, along with funding certainty and policy reforms to modernize infrastructure delivery,” Nile Elam, NAPA Vice President of Government Affairs, told Bloomberg.
