House OKs three-month extension of SAFETEA-LU

And it looks like the extensions have begun…but at least we won’t be running on empty Sept. 30. The House on Sept. 23 passed a three-month extension to the surface transportation bill SAFETEA-LU, which is set to expire on Sept. 30. Its predecessor, TEA-21, endured extensions during a nearly two-year period. The extension, H.R. 3617, passed on a vote of 335-85 which exceeded the two-thirds requirement by 55 votes.

House Transportation and Infrastructure committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) seems determined not to let such a scenario happen this time around.

Although he supported this short extension, he’s not in favor of Pres. Barack Obama’s suggested 18-month extension. He’s also made it clear that if such an extension were granted, it’s imperative that work be done on the bill instead of waiting 18 months to then begin working on the new legislation.

Despite Republican leadership calls to vote against the 3-month extension, 86 Republicans joined Democrats to pass it, according to the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA).

Here’s a list of the Republicans voting in favor of the extension (Source: NSSGA): final-vote-results-for-roll-call-731-3-month-surface-transportation

Click here to read prepared floor statements from Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.