Federal highway and transit programs are currently authorized until March 31. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, spoke last month of his intent to introduce a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill “in the weeks ahead.” (see Nov. 18 AASHTO Journal story) The speaker posted a blog entry Nov. 3 stating his desire to move the combined highway and transit reauthorization as well as expanded domestic energy production legislation “through the House before the end of the year.” (see Nov. 4 AASHTO Journal story)
Mica, R-Florida, told a national transportation policy summit held Wednesday in Washington by the University of Virginia’s Miller Center that representatives “could still complete action in the House and move to conference with the Senate on a timely basis,” said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “He also stated that he thought that as far as he was concerned, the March 31 deadline was a hard deadline and that would force the House and Senate to take action by the deadline.”
There simply isn’t time to complete House action on a transportation reauthorization bill before the holiday recess, Mica said. Congressional leaders are aiming to conclude this year’s session by Dec. 16, when a continuing resolution funding several federal agencies is set to expire.
Mica spokesman Justin Harclerode told Transport Topics that “Republican leadership and the committee remain committed to moving this important infrastructure jobs bill early next year, likely in January or February.”
After taking a holiday recess, the House is scheduled to reconvene Jan. 17 for the second session of the 112th Congress.