The EPW Committee is working to "hotline" a six-month extension bill, which would be substituted for the three-month extension (HR 3617) sent over from the House in late September as the authorization was expiring. The House bill was not considered on the Senate floor, and the highway and transit programs were extended under a one-month appropriations continuing resolution. Hotlining is an inquiry to all Senate members to determine if a bill can be enacted by unanimous consent.

The Senate bill would provide $24.6 billion in contract authority for the highway program. The bill would also apparently restore the $8.7 billion in contract authority that was rescinded when the 2005 transportation law known as "SAFETEA-LU" expired Sept. 30. Because the bill does not increase obligation authority, it should not require any waiver of budget requirements or offsets.

"We are pleased to see movement by transportation leaders in Congress to provide some additional stability for state transportation programs," said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. "With only days remaining on the one-month extension, it's impossible for states to advance their federal-aid projects with no assurance of funding levels."

The Senate has yet to consider on the floor an 18-month extension bill approved by three committees that would extend highway and transit programs at Fiscal Year 2009 levels through March 2011. That approach has been resisted by House transportation leaders, who want to continue to press for action on a multiyear authorization. The six-month extension is seen as a compromise between the two chambers.

While it looks like another appropriations continuing resolution is likely, (see related story) indications are that appropriators prefer to see a separate bill to extend surface transportation programs.

What remains unclear, however, is whether the House would be willing to agree to anything beyond an extension until year's end. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders have said a shorter extension would allow Congress to complete a six-year bill before the new year. With a funding source not yet identified for the $500 billion legislation being proposed, financing remains a major stumbling block to enactment of a six-year bill.