President Obama signed a three-month bill into law that extends program authority through October 29 and will keep the highway fund solvent until mid-December. Congress passed the bill one day before the deadline for a cutoff of funds.
The Senate approved the short-term bill by vote of 91 to 4. The House passed the same bill a day earlier, and then left for its August recess.
Lawmakers said they hope the 3-month patch — the 34th short-term transportation extension since 2009 — will be Congress’ last.
The bill also provides $8 billion to shore up the federal Highway Trust Fund through mid-December. The fund’s balance was forecast to drop below a $4 billion cushion necessary to prevent disruptions in payments to states in early August.
“We had to give some ground, but we found common ground,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. said. “And we all believe this bill is so important for our nation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. had tried to persuade the House to delay its recess in order to take up the Senate’s long-term bill, but GOP leaders there opted for the short-term patch in order to give themselves time to craft a long-term bill that reflects their priorities.
