Congress Gives SAFETEA-LU Six Weeks

Congress on Thursday gave a six-week lease on life to a transportation spending law that expired Sept. 30.

The extension to Dec. 18 of the highway program known as SAFETEA-LU was part of a continuing resolution for portions of the federal government for which Congress has not approved a 2010 budget.

There is still no agreement on a longer extension of the highway law, which has been a contentious subject between Senate and House transportation leaders.

According to several sources, senators were unsuccessful in an attempt to forge a compromise extending the law for six months. It would be a concession by Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. who advocates an 18-month extension of the law, a proposal also supported by the Obama administration.

In the House, Rep. James L. Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, favors immediate passage of a comprehensive transportation policy and program overhaul. Oberstar and the House have agreed to extend the current highway law until the end of December, but no further, according to Jim Berard, committee spokesman.

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