Update from Matt Reiffer at ACEC:

ACEC Transportation Committee members - 

I want to give you a brief update on the status of the appropriations bill for U.S. Department of Transportation programs. It's close to enactment but not quite over the finish line yet.

Last week, the House of Representatives voted 341-88 to approve the transportation funding bill as part of a three-bill package that included Defense, Labor, and Health & Human Services programs. That bill was then combined with the appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and two other previously passed bills. The House bundled those six bills into a single legislative package for Senate consideration.

This week, Senate Democrats opposed the DHS funding bill as currently written because they want new reforms and oversight requirements for immigration enforcement agencies following recent high-profile incidents in Minnesota. Senate Republicans have indicated a willingness to negotiate on those issues.

As a result, on Friday the Senate voted 71-29 to approve a five-bill package, including Department of Transportation funding, and a short-term, two-week stopgap measure for DHS. That will give lawmakers time to continue to negotiate measures related to immigration enforcement.

Because the Senate made changes to the House bill, it goes back to that body for another vote. The House is scheduled to return to Washington next week and could vote as early as Monday. 

The temporary "continuing resolution" that has been funding most of the government expired at midnight Friday, January 30. So, there will be a partial lapse in funding over the weekend while lawmakers work to send the measure to the President's desk.

During a lapse in appropriations, those departments would institute contingency operation plans. As you will recall from last fall's shutdown, essential services and national security activities will continue while non-essential workers are temporarily furloughed. For many transportation programs, funding is available through the Highway Trust Fund or advanced appropriations from the 2021 infrastructure law, so the short-term impact of a lapse in appropriations would be minimal.

The Department of Transportation contingency plan is here.

Please contact me directly (mreiffer@acec.org / 202-682-4308) with any questions or concerns. 

Stay tuned for additional updates from ACEC, hopefully early next week.

Have a great weekend!

Matt