Highway
Bill Extension to Delay WRDA Action, NCGA Notes (5-20-05)
As the House and Senate are work out details of
a seventh extension of federal highway and transit programs, introduction
and mark up of the House Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
will be delayed, notes National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
Director of Public Policy Lisa Kelley.
With less than two weeks before federal transportation
aid expires, the Senate completed its work on re-authorizing surface
transportation legislation, known as the “highway bill.”
This opens the door to difficult conference negotiations with the
House. The bill is under the threat of a White House veto due to
its high price tag.
“Right now we are seeing movement on a seventh
extension on the of federal highway and transit programs,”
said Kelley. “At the same time, the House and Senate are in
the beginning stages of conferencing the highway bill, but as of
yet, appointments have not been named. There is some speculation
that even with conferees being named possibly next week, the conference
committee will not have time to meet and finalize the bill before
the deadline of May 31.”
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
which has the responsibility of developing WRDA legislation in the
House, were tentatively scheduled to introduce and mark up their
bill next week.
“The House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be completely bogged
down with completing the highway bill conference before May 31 and
now staff has been pulled from WRDA to complete the highway bill,”
said Kelley. The House introduction of WRDA legislation, expected
May 25, will in all likelihood be delayed another month, she said.
NCGA has also learned that the Chairman of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is seeking confirmation
on floor time with the goal of holding a mark up and then going
straight to the House floor for consideration. The House, Kelley
said, is under an extremely aggressive schedule to also complete
all of the FY 2006 appropriations measures by the July 4 recess.
As a result, floor time is at a minimum until the appropriations
bills are completed.
“On a good note, they will complete the highway
bill and committee staff has indicated to me that introduction and
mark up of WRDA will likely occur toward the end of June with floor
consideration possibly following the July 4 recess,” she said.