Nick Rahall: “This bill provides the States with some ability to continue to obligate federal highway funds until Congress…”

“This bill provides the States with some ability to continue to obligate federal highway funds until Congress reauthorizes the federal aid to highway program which expired on September 30th. Since that time, no new contract authority associated with federal highway dollars has been available to the States. Under this legislation, which represents a compromise with the Senate, $5.5 billion in new contract authority would be provided to the States. This amount, coupled with the unobligated balances associated with prior year contract authority currently in existence, provides the States with $9.8 billion in federal highway fund obligational authority subject to a May 1, 1988, expiration. This legislation should be viewed as an interim measure made necessary because Congress did not enact a long-term highway bill this session.”