Boxer Seeks White House Help on Highway Bill

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, is asking the Obama administration for help in brokering a deal to get a new transportation bill moving through Congress, E&E News reported.

During a hearing last week Boxer told two senior Department of Transportation officials, “We need your help on this standoff,” between the Senate and House on a new comprehensive transportation spending plan, E&E reported.

Last July, the committee voted for an 18-month extension of the existing highway law, known as SAFETEA-LU, which was supported by the White House. Senate transportation leaders later offered a 12-month extension, and last week the leaders of EPW and the Commerce and Banking committee urged the Senate leadership to accept a six-month extension.

That still puts the Senate proposal at odds with Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who opposes any extension. He is sponsor of a $500 billion five-year surface transportation bill that he planned to have approved by Congress by Sept. 30, when the old law expired.

However, the House Ways and Means Committee has not taken up the revenue portion of Oberstar’s bill, and he agreed to extend the current highway bill until the end of 2009.

Boxer said her extension would include a provision to again make available to states some $8.7 billion in unused funds allocated for highway projects. The contracting authority was due to expire with the old highway bill.

“Once we pass a multi-month extension, we will continue our bipartisan efforts to enact a multi-year surface transportation bill,” Boxer said. An extension will, however, ensure the program can continue with sufficient funding while Congress concentrates on a comprehensive, truly transformational surface transportation bill.”

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.