The House of Representatives approved the seven-week extension Thursday as part of the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior/Environment appropriations bill. The Senate followed with its approval later Thursday. If Obama signs the measure, highway and transit grants to states -- set to expire Saturday -- will be funded through Dec. 18.

The legislation also provides authority for federal agencies lacking an appropriations law this fiscal year, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, to continue spending money until Dec. 18. (see related story)

Because of an $8.7 billion rescission of states' highway contract authority, which took effect Sept. 30, the seven-week extension will be at a level $1.5 billion lower in contract authority than for the similar period last year.

The last federal transportation authorization law known as "SAFETEA-LU" lapsed Sept. 30. In late September, Congress enacted a one-month continuing resolution after neither chamber was able to move a full six-year reauthorization bill.

Senate Transportation Leaders Seek Six-Month Extension

Three Senate committees have reported an 18-month transportation bill that has the backing of the Obama administration. It would extend the surface transportation authorization until March 2011. Last week, Senate transportation leaders opted to pursue a six-month measure that would extend authorization to April 30. But efforts to obtain unanimous consent to take up the bill on the Senate floor were not successful. The House has approved a transportation extension until Dec. 31, but the Senate has not acted on that bill.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-CA, told delegates to the AASHTO Annual Meeting on Sunday in Palm Desert, CA, that the committee was seeking to give the states as much stability as possible by advancing a six-month extension. She said that with Congress focused on healthcare reform and climate change, more time is needed to produce a "new, visionary transformational bill" for surface transportation.

Speaking to the AASHTO Board of Directors on Monday, David Heymsfeld, majority staff director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Chairman James Oberstar, D-MN, believes it is urgent to pass a multi-year authorization bill this year. All efforts should be focused on that goal, Heymsfeld said.

Oberstar believes he will have the support of House Republicans as well as Democrats to enact the revenues needed to support the $500 billion measure that he has proposed, Heymsfeld said. He asked for solidarity in supporting Oberstar's legislation, warning that any display of weakness or disagreement with the provisions of the bill would damage its chances for passage.