Congress clears surface transportation extension
Written by jrood
Congress passed the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, legislation to extend highway, transit and highway safety programs through the end of September, clearing the measure for signature by the President. The legislation freezes funding at fiscal year 2010 levels for highway, transit and highways safety programs. The previous extension of programs expired March 4, 2011, and this legislation is critical to ensuring that transportation programs and projects are not shut down and that infrastructure construction jobs are not threatened. "This legislation will provide some stability for transportation departments in every state and allow DOTs to continue planning and constructing transportation projects through the summer construction season," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL). "This extension of transportation programs will allow more time for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to develop a fiscally responsible, long-term reauthorization of transportation programs to create jobs and build our nation's infrastructure."
