U.S. Senate to debate transportation funding bill in June

U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said on Wednesday that the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee will hold a mark-up session in June for a transportation reauthorization bill.

The bill would be in effect for six years and provide a long-term solution as Congress continues the debate over funding mechanisms.

"We are quickly approaching a critical deadline for federal investment in our nation’s roads and bridges. Without congressional action by May 31, vital projects across the nation will come to a grinding halt," Inhofe and Boxer said in a joint statement. "This is unacceptable, and we owe it to our nation’s economy to send a strong signal that Congress is going to maintain the backbone of America’s commerce and national security."

The bill aims to upgrade and strengthen transportation infrastructure and provide the necessary funds to ensure that repair and renovation projects can continue.

"We can no longer wait on Congress," the senators said. "We look forward to finalizing negotiations with the big four, to include Sens. David Vitter (R-LA) and Tom Carper (D-DE), and working with our members on a consensus bill in the tradition of this committee in the next few weeks.”