On Wednesday, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) held a news conference on the reauthorization of TEA-21. Earlier in the week, President Bush signed a bill extending surface transportaion programs for five months, while transportation authorizers attempt to draft a long-term bill.

Lawmakers might find it difficult to pass a long-term reathorization bill in the next five months because of time constraints and other legislative priorities. Congress will likely adjourn in mid-late November, which leaves little time left in this session for lawmakers to consider a long-term bill. Congress still has to act on appropriations bills, the President's supplemental funding request for Iraq, the Medicare bill and energy legislation. In January and February, Congress has only 10 legislative days scheduled, so there is scant time to conider a long-term extension bill. However, state transportation departments continue to stress the need for immediate action on a long-term bill, especially in light of state budgetary constraints and increasing congestion on highways.

AASHTO President John Njord commented, "we haven't got five months to create a bill here, folks, we've got a very short period of time." Njord also talked about how crucial it was for the federal government to provide a stable and predictable stream of funding to state transportation departments, who must prepare long in advance for construction projects. With continuous short-term extensions, it will be more cumbersome for states to compare future federal funding of projects with required expenditures. Without definitve knowledge of federal funding for a specific program over a long period, states and regional transit agencies have more trouble estimating how much transportation money must be raised through other means. "When there is uncertainty on the state side.....it really dampens our ability to plan long-term," said Njord.

With the Congressional impasse, AASHTO has recently stepped up its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Even as State DOTs have been hampstrung by state buget woes, the need for more transportation investment has not diminished and Njord wants lawmakers not to lose interest in passing a long-term bill over the next five months. If Congress fails to act before the end of February, another temporary extension will have to be approved so transportation funds continue flowing to the states.

AASHTO wnats Congress to have a bill ready for consideration by Thanksgiving.