House readies highway bill for action
Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee re-introduced a six-year surface transportation authorization bill to fund $289 billion worth of highway and transit projects.
The figure equals the amount proposed by President Bush Monday, leading to optimism the bill can be quickly passed. Last year, the administration stuck to its guns for about $256 billion in spending and the bill stalled as lawmakers sought higher funding levels.
Congress and the administration have said the bill is a top priority because states are on hold with projects awaiting funding streams at new levels.