Shuster introduces bill for three-month extension of transport funding law

Legislation was introduced in the House today to extend the funding authorization for federal highway and mass-transit programs through the end of October.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, comes less than two weeks after the House approved a bill introduced by Shuster and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, to extend funding authorization until the middle of December.

The bill introduced today was designed as a compromise with the Senate, which is about to begin debate on the floor on a six-year reauthorization measure and did not want a five-month extension, according to a Congressional source. Unlike the House, the Senate has not voted to extend the current funding law, which expires this Friday unless extended. If the law expires without an extension, states will not receive the funds needed to continue infrastructure projects. It is believed, though, that the Senate will vote to extend the law.

Should the Shuster bill be approved, the Senate will have the opportunity to choose between the two House bills, according to the source.