House, Senate Move Toward Short Term Fix for Highway Trust Fund

House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) has marked up H.R. 5021, an $11 billion Highway Trust Fund bailout that extends authorization and funding to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and mass transit accounts through May 31, 2015. The House voted 367-55 in favor of passage on Tuesday.

On the Senate side, Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) is expected to unveil legislative text to the $11 billion bailout outline the committee approved last week. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Commerce, Science and Transportation committees will also need to pass their individual pieces to be combined by Majority Leader Reid into a comprehensive funding and authorizing bill. EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) would like to see the bill have a December 2014 deadline in order to force compromise on a longterm funding bill following the November elections. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters he plans to hold votes on the House proposal, the Senate Finance proposal and Sen. Boxer's proposal. The votes have not been scheduled yet.