The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discussed the looming insolvency of the highway trust fund today with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. Nearly everyone, on both sides of the aisle, agreed with the Secretary on the need for a clean 18-month extension, which the secretary valued at around $20 billion.  This stands in sharp contrast to the House, where Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders are calling for the immediate passage of a $500 billion bill. Here are the links to the written statements of Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK), and the testimony of Ray LaHood.

Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) stressed the need for comprehensive reform, but explained an 18-month extension would give Congress time to debate and create a highway trust fund that works; at the same time, the 18-month timeframe would eliminate any midterm election-related politicizing. Sen. Boxer also emphasized the need to quickly and smoothly extend the highway trust fund in order to give stakeholders assurance and certainty regarding contracts and projects. Read more about the Highway Trust Fund here.

Senator David Vitter (R-LA) has introduced a bill that would backfill the Highway Trust Fund with extra stimulus dollars, giving maximum flexibility to the White House, for 18 months. If more permanent legislation is created, Vitter’s bill would immediately sunset.

Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) wholeheartedly disagreed with the committee and Secretary, and stated the need to create robust reform legislation now. Sen. Voinovich advocated the legislation be funded by increasing the gasoline tax. According to Sen. Boxer, the committee, Secretary LaHood, and Sen. Voinovich share the same vision and differ only on the time horizon.