Senate’s focus this week: highway funding

By |  July 20, 2015

The Hill reports that work on a highway bill is expected to dominate the U.S. Senate’s work this week, beginning with a procedural vote on Tuesday. The House of Representatives passed a five-month Highway Trust Fund fix last week, but, The Hill says, “The Senate’s persistence in forging ahead with its own bill sets up a showdown next week when one chamber will have to relent before leaving Washington for the month-long August recess.”

Senators have been working on a six-year, $275 billion measure, though legislators disagree on how to fund it.

The Hill says supporters of the Export-Import Bank are expected to offer an amendment reauthorizing the bank’s charter. This could split Republicans, including presidential candidates Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.). Graham supports the bank, while Cruz has refused to rule out filibustering the highway bill if reauthorization is attached.

The bill, says The Hill, faces a myriad of hurdles from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

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About the Author:

Darren Constantino is an editor of Pit & Quarry magazine. He can be reached at dconstantino@northcoastmedia.net.

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