House Approves Nine-Month Highway Extension

On Dec. 8, the House passed legislation extending authorization for the federal highway program through Sept. 30, 2011.  The latest extension is part of a broader continuing resolution (CR) (HR 3082) to fund the operations of the federal government through FY 2011. The CR now moves to the Senate, where debate on the matter is expected to begin following action on the tax package.

The House’s action came the same day Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) sent a letter to Congress urging a continuation of the current highway program until Sept. 30 to provide some certainty to states and localities as planning persists for the 2011 construction season.
 
Mica to Lead House Transportation Committee
In other transportation policy news, House Republicans officially selected Rep. John Mica (R-FL) to lead the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee in a vote on Dec. 8.  The widely anticipated move gives Mica the T&I gavel for the 112th Congress, where he will oversee many areas important to distributors, including surface transportation and wastewater resources.
 
Mica has served Central Florida’s seventh congressional district, representing the area northeast of Orlando, on the T&I committee since his first election to Congress in 1992.  A strong proponent of infrastructure, Mica has been the committee’s senior Republican since 2006. He has pledged that a new highway bill will be among his top priorities.