The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 1 voted 365-51 to extend surface transportation programs nder the FAST Act for 30 days after Congress failed to reach an agreement on passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The $550 billion IIJA carried a reauthorization of surface transportation programs, which expired Sept. 30.
The temporary extension of surface transportation programs was signed into law over the weekend. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has set Oct. 30 as a new deadline for reaching a deal on the $550 billion infrastructure deal and the broader social spending and climate change package.
Political disagreements continue within the Democratic party, as Progressives say they will not vote for the IIJA unless it is coupled with the broader package. Moderate Democrats have indicated that they would vote for infrastructure as a standalone bill.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Executive Director Jim Tymon issued a statement to media saying that while it appreciates addressing the lapse in federal highway, transit and highway safety programs, short-term extensions are not a suitable way to govern. “This particular extension doesn’t include any new funding for state departments of transportation until October 15,” he said, “leaving [states] without support from their federal partners for weeks while they continue the work of moving people and goods through our communities.”
The House does not have any floor time scheduled for this week or next.
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