Senate Stands Down, Passes House’s 90-Day Highway Extension
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iStockPhoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Senate on Thursday approved the 90-day House extension of the Highway bill, just days before current funding will expire. The measure passed by a Unanimous Consent voice vote on the Senate floor at 2:37 pm.
The temporary measure was a tough bill to swallow for Senate Democrats, who had been pushing for weeks for the House of Representatives to pass their $109 billion two-year measure. But time was working against the Senate. With the looming threat of construction on roads across the nation grinding to a halt this weekend without a bill passed by both houses and with a two-week recess starting next week, members of Congress were eager to get something passed.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA., one of the chief negotiators of the bill called this a “sad day” because members of Congress will leave town without a long-term solution. She promised to keep fighting for a longer-term extension.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA., said she does not support the short-term bill but would not hold up the spring recess over it. She promised not to vote for another short-term extension again.
The bill will be sent now to President Obama for his signature.
Some members of Congress are already leaving Capitol Hill now to start their two week recess, with votes not scheduled in the Senate again until April 16.
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