USA: Highway Trust Fund extension must be passed this week

In the US, the House of Representatives has passed a two-month extension to the Highway Trust Fund, which is due to expire on 31 May. The Senate must pass the measure on the president before Congress leaves on 22 May for the Memorial Day recess. The highway extension is one of many important bills that need to be passed in the Senate this week, so is unlikely to see much debate.

The NSSGA explains: ‘Without this measure, the Highway Trust Fund’s contract authority and expenditure authority will run out on May 31, halting reimbursements to states for projects, who in turn cannot pay their bills to contractors.’ NSSGA has been campaigning for a more long-term solution, this latest extension to the bill being the 33^rd in the last 6 years.  

Pam Whitted, NSSGA Sr. Vice President commented, “While we recognise this extension is necessary, the absence of a path towards a multi-year transportation plan is staggering. Give stakeholders a funding option to support and NSSGA, with its partners, will exert every effort to take it across the finish line to passage.”

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/21052015/usa-highway-trust-fund-extension-must-be-passed-this-week-882/