Highway Bill

Highway bill upping spending by a quarter gets OK from Senate committee
The current five-year law funding surface transportation programs expires Sept. 30, 2020.

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said. “The bill will speed up project delivery will cut Washington red tape, so projects can get done faster, better, cheaper and smarter.” (File photo by Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 21-0 Tuesday to advance a $287 billion bill that would fund the repair and maintenance of  roads and bridges over five years, expedite permitting processes for major infrastructure projects and make transportation systems more resilient to climate change effects.

The bill, which would increase spending by 27 percent over the current authorization, has the support of President Donald Trump, although he has walked away from broader infrastructure talks.

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Mitch McConnell's Favorite Democrat
Majority leader cites a staunch liberal as his favorite Senate Democrat

California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer worked with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky last year on a highway bill. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pointed to a liberal stalwart as one of his favorite Democrats in the Senate.  

"I’m shockingly enough a big fan of Barbara Boxer,” the Kentucky Republican told Yahoo News during a Tuesday interview.  

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Rocking the Natural History Museum

An aggregates industry trade group is celebrating passage of the highway bill at the Natural History Museum. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Lawmakers are invited to celebrate the nation’s infrastructure at the Natural History Museum on Wednesday.  

The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, a mining group, is hosting a reception at the museum’s rotunda, followed by an tour of the rocks gallery at the museum.  

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Congressional Hits and Misses: Week of July 27, 2015 (Video)

Members wrapped up the last week in July with rhetorical questions, pipe smoke and empty toothpaste tubes.

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