Lawmakers today passed a 90-day extension to the current two-year, $109 billion transportation bill, which was to expire on March 31. The vote was 266 to 158. The measure now goes to President Obama for his signature.
If the bill had been extended the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would be shut down and all reimbursements to states for construction projects or safety programs would have stopped. According to the Transportation Department an estimated 3,500 workers at the highway administration, motor carrier administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would have been furloughed.
According to the Washington Times, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica, Florida Republican, whose crafted the House’s failed five-year initial long-term transportation plan, said the extension will give him time to work on another long-term proposal. Earlier this month the Senate passed the bill 74-22.