Statement by John Horsley, Executive Director of AASHTO, On Senate Action on Highway and Transit Extension:

Less than a week remains before the expiration of our federal highway and transit programs on February 28. Unless Congress acts to extend the programs, billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs are in jeopardy.

Today's vote in the Senate is the first step to considering an extension which would ensure that states can maintain their transportation programs and prepare for the oncoming construction season.

Both the House bill, Jobs for Main Street, which was passed in December, and the pending Senate jobs bill would:

• Extend federal funding for highways and transit programs while the Congress works on a multi-year authorization;
• Provide $19.5 billion for the Highway Trust Fund to ensure that funding is adequate to continue the programs; and
• Repair the baseline for the highway program to at least maintain last year's funding levels. Currently states are receiving $1 billion per month less in federal highway obligation authority because of a rescission that took place in September. If funding levels are not restored to pre-rescission levels in the budget, the highway program will plunge by $13 billion at a time when good construction jobs are desperately needed.

We urge the Senate to act swiftly on the extension, and to work with the House to advance a bill for the President's signature before February 28.