Page 19 - ATR 6 2015 web 2

the long road to a long-term

highway bill

U.S. House and Senate finally have a winner

by steve brawner
Contributing Writer

Heading into the Thanksgiving hol-
iday, it seemed likely that, for the first
time since August 2005, the nation’s
highways might be funded with a long-
term funding bill. And a week later,
after the turkeys were pardoned and
tryptophan-induced naps were taken,
we finally have a highway bill to give
thanks for.
Before the holiday, sixty-five sena-
tors and representatives, including Rep.
Rick Crawford, R-Ark., were meeting
in a conference committee to reconcile
differences between the versions passed
by the House and Senate.
The previous extension funding
the federal Highway Trust Fund was to
expire Dec. 4, which meant the con-
ferees had to produce a bill by Nov. 30
in order to have time for both houses
of Congress to vote and send it to
President Obama. “we’re goiNg to have to swallow hard, aNd
By late afternoon on Friday, Dec. we’re goiNg to have to live with that, But
4, a bill, approved by both houses of
Congress, did make it to the presi- with aN eye towards the future of perhaps
dent. Enter the FAST (Fixing America’s raisiNg the user fee goiNg forward.”
Surface Transportation) Act, the first
long-term highway bill in a decade. —dave osiecki, americaN truckiNg associatioNs executive
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., rank-
ing member of the Senate Environment vice presideNt aNd chief of NatioNal advocacy
and Public Works Committee, and Rep.
Bill Shuster, R-Pennsylvania, chair- Schumer, D-New York, was leading and bridges. Crawford said metropolitan
man of the House Transportation elected officials from the country’s areas often stick together.
and Infrastructure Committee, were Northeastern corridor who wanted to “When it comes to stuff like
among the most heavily involved elected spend more money for mass transit, that, we tend to lose,” Crawford said.
officials, Crawford said. Sen. Chuck which leaves less money for highways 

ArkAnsAs truckIng rePort | Issue 6 2015 19