Chamber’s Donohue Calls for Short Highway Bill Extension

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue is calling for a short-term extension of the current highway bill, rather than an 18-month extension.

The leader of the nation’s top business lobby will announce support for a short-term extension of SAFETEA-LU, the 2005 highway bill, at a press conference Tuesday.

He also will discuss support for a funding package for the long-term surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

The House this week will consider a three-month extension of the current highway bill rather than the 18-month extension the administration and Senate want.

An extension is needed to avoid a collapse of highway spending on Oct. 1, according to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee press secretary James Berard.

Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the committee, has an extension bill in the works, but it has not been formally filed or marked up, Berard said.

Donohue will be joined by Bill Graves, president of the American Trucking Associations, Jay Timmons, executive vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers and Kathleen Marvaso, vice president of public affairs for AAA.