Federal funding for highways

The US House of Representatives approved on Thursday a job creation bill (HIRE Act) that would extend the Highway Trust Fund authorization until December 31, deposit $19.5 billion of general revenue into the Highway Trust Fund, restore this fiscal year's highway funding to $42 billion from $30 billion, and offer additional federal support for states and localities. Due to non-transportation related amendments, the legislation now must travel back to the US Senate where it was approved last week for approval again.

The legislation acts as the fifth short-term extension of the 2005 transportation authorization law known as "SAFETEA-LU," which expired Sept. 30, 2009. Work continues in Congress on a full six-year surface transportation authorization, but it has been delayed over funding concerns.