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Congressional approval of a multiyear highway policy measure would enhance state transportation agencies’ ability to plan long term for infrastructure projects. That is the message from the organization representing the country’s departments of transportation.

WASHINGTON — Congress approved an extension to Dec. 3 of the Oct. 31 deadline for transportation funds that were at risk of expiring, an action necessary after the House of Representatives failed to vote Oct. 28 on the $1 trillion infrastructure bill already approved by the Senate.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pressuring House Democrats to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill as soon as today but is running into stiff opposition from progressives, who want to see the legislative text of a larger tax and spending package first.

President Joe Biden argued for his economic agenda in New Jersey on Oct. 25, pointing to a train bridge in the state that sometimes can’t be closed without the help of sledgehammers as a sign of decaying U.S. infrastructure.

The White House said President Joe Biden made progress on his big tax-and-spending plan in a meeting with key moderate Sen. Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, though further talks among staffers will be needed.

A bipartisan push to make the U.S. more competitive with China and bolster domestic chip production risks falling by the wayside as Congress grapples with a packed year-end agenda in an ever-more-divided Capitol.

WASHINGTON — Scaling down his Build Back Better plans, President Joe Biden on Oct. 19 described a more limited vision to Democratic lawmakers of a $2 trillion government-overhaul package with at least $500 billion to tackle climate change and money for middle-class priorities — child tax credits, paid family leave, health care and free pre-kindergarten.

As Democrats work on a revised multitrillion-dollar budget package, Republican transportation leaders have ramped up their criticism of congressional leaders and the Biden administration.

A proposal to restore certain environmental review guidelines for infrastructure projects that were modified by the Trump administration was announced by the Biden White House.

WASHINGTON — The top transportation policymaker in the U.S. Senate again called for passage of a $1 trillion infrastructure measure awaiting action in the House.