Congress Not Expected to Meet Deadline To
Pass Five Year Transportation Funding Bill
WASHINGTON—The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) reports that the U.S. Senate is preparing to advance both a temporary spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), and an extension of the 2021 infrastructure law prior to adjourning for the August recess next week. The terms of these measures are still being negotiated.
The five year federal transportation funding law expires on Sept. 30. ARTBA and other industry association officials believe it is unlikely that a multi year funding reauthorization will pass Congress by that deadline since the House of Representatives is in recess until Aug. 31. The House left the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long term Development for America’s 250th Act, or BUILD America 250 Act, awaiting action by the House Ways and Means Committee.
ARTBA organized stakeholder meetings with key Senate offices last week, emphasizing how specific funding cuts would affect each state. The House passed a continuing resolution that would cut transportation spending levels through Dec. 4, but it has not considered an extension of surface transportation programs. ARTBA stated that bipartisan leaders in the Senate are finalizing details of temporary measures that would likely extend funding and programs through Dec. 11. The Senate is expected to consider these measures this week and would need to secure the 60 votes required for passage.
The association also led a group letter to congressional leaders on behalf of more than 60 national organizations, calling on them to continue supporting all surface transportation programs in any continuing resolution or extension, regardless of the funding source.
“Any decision by Congress to reduce funding to federal transportation programs as part of any short term continuing resolution (CR) or extension of the surface transportation programs will inject uncertainty into state and local investment decisions,” the organizations said in a July 27 letter to congressional leadership.
Such a funding reduction could “potentially lead to delays in completing or commencing work on critical infrastructure projects that benefit the safety of our nation’s travelers, support our nation’s economy, and help create and maintain important jobs,” the construction industry groups noted.
Published: August 5, 2026.