Hill Transportation Leaders Eye Highway Bill
Trump Ends Longest Shutdown, House Resumes Agenda
Key Takeaways:
- Republicans intend to wrap up consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act before the end of the year.
- T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves stresses a highway bill that addresses autonomous technology.
- The House transportation appropriations bill would provide $200 million for truck parking expansion projects.
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
With the longest government shutdown over, congressional transportation lawmakers renewed their focus on finalizing multiyear highway legislation.
Soon after President Donald Trump on Nov. 12 enacted into law a short-term funding bill, the chairman of the influential transportation panel in the House pointed to myriad policy priorities.
“Many Americans, including our air traffic controllers, members of our military, and many more, were held hostage for 43 days purely for political gain. I appreciate our air traffic controllers and other professionals who showed up day in and day out to do their jobs, without pay, to ensure the safety of our aviation system and the nation,” Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman said Nov. 12, emphasizing his commitment to “continue to work with the Trump administration to minimize any of its ongoing impacts.”
Central to the dynamic transportation agenda on Capitol Hill is proceeding with comprehensive highway policy legislation. Graves’ committee is expected to resume hearings specific to the legislative proposal, which is meant to improve safety and supply chain connectivity on the nation’s roadways.
Our air traffic controllers work incredibly stressful jobs, that have been made far more difficult by not getting paid during the shutdown. They know how important and critical their jobs are. They take it very seriously and they deserve to be paid for it. It’s time to pass the… — Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves)
This multiyear highway legislation would look to streamline federal environmental permitting processes, facilitate the completion of large-scale infrastructure projects and pave the way for the modernization of primary commuter corridors.
“We’ve already got driverless trucks, driverless cars, driverless airplanes. The technology is going to explode. We have to anticipate where that technology is taking us and put together a bill that addresses it,” Graves said Nov. 4.
The top Democrat on the transportation panel, , expressed concern about potential disruptions linked to the record 43-day partial federal shutdown.
“I am committed to rapidly unwinding the major disruptions the traveling public has been put through due to the Republican shutdown,” he said.
The Washington Democrat also has agreed to craft a highway bill that reflects bipartisan proposals.
Reed Loustalot of Truck Parking Club discusses how a combination of public funding and private innovation can ease the truck parking problem.Tune in above or by going to .
The House, which recessed during the shutdown, returned to its legislative calendar the week of Nov. 10. The Republican-led chamber did so to clear for Trump the funding measure that keeps the government open through the end of January.
, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, pledged to advance fiscal 2026 bills for transportation programs and other agencies before the next government funding deadline.
“We’re reopening [the] government, restoring stability and continuing the hard work of delivering full-year appropriations through a transparent, line-by-line process. I hope Democrats remember this lesson: True courage is taking responsible action for the nation even when politics makes it inconvenient,” Cole said.
The House transportation appropriations bill would provide $200 million for truck parking expansion projects, a proposal endorsed by the trucking industry.
According to a legislative summary the House Appropriations Committee provided Nov. 12, the Republican majority touted their goal: “Even though Democrat leadership undermined this legislative process and squandered time that should have been utilized on passing and conferencing more bills, Republican appropriators refused to back down in their commitment to delivering full-year appropriations, restoring regular order and ending the shutdown Democrats chose.”
Republicans failed to lower the high cost of living.
We have them on the run because they refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
The extremists were crushed on Election Day.
Now they Big Mad. — Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries)
The House’s Minority Leader, Rep. , indicated he would continue to oppose a Republican agenda that does not focus on affordability for certain health care recipients. Subsidizing federal health care accounts was at the center of the government shutdown impasse. “House Democrats have a simple answer. We will continue to fight to lower the high cost of living. House Democrats will continue [to] fight to address the health care crisis that Republicans have created,” Jeffries stated.
Before the end of the year, Republicans governing in the majority in Congress intend to wrap up consideration of the annual Pentagon policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act. In the Senate, Trump’s transportation nominees are on the docket for consideration.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing belowor go here for more info:
