House leaders vow to press ahead with transportation bill

At odds with Obama, Senate

Steve Hawley, Jun 30, 09.

House members from both sides of the aisle have joined together to support Rep. James Oberstar (pictured), chair of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, in his quest to gain passage of a new transportation bill this year, according to Streetsblog Los Angeles. This puts the House at odds with both the Senate and the Obama administration, which both support an 18-month extension of the current bill.

The article notes:

Several advocacy and interest groups are joining the committee’s effort to push a six-year transportation bill across the finish line. The Laborers’ International Union of North America released a statement that plainly said, “We agree with Chairman Oberstar that the surface transportation bill should not be delayed.”

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which represents the nation’s transit agencies, also lent its voice in support. “Our members need this bill to pass as soon as it possibly can,” APTA President William Millar told Streetsblog.

However, Oberstar’s allies concede that the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate this year.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood first proposed the 18-month extension on June 17, the same day that Oberstar had originally planned to release an outline of his proposed transportation bill. Oberstar unveiled the outline the following day.