House and Senate Conferees on June 9 held their first meeting to begin the process of reconciling the House and Senate versions of reauthorization of surface transportation programs. The largely ceremonial meeting produced agreement on a short list of provisions virtually identical in both bills. It also produced agreement that all conferees wished House T&I Chairman Don Young a happy birthday. Beyond that, there was scant evidence of progress.

Most of the meeting was consumed by opening statements from the conferees. These statements restated positions on overall funding and on program structure which are now familiar to all who have paid attention to this issue in recent months.

We are told conferees have agreed to meet every two weeks. It is unclear whether there will be any further progress to discuss by June 23. House and Senate staffers have not scheduled meetings to discuss the differences between the two bills. That does not bode well for speedy action.

We continue to believe the prospects for final action on this legislation before the November election are very slim. We are hoping to be convinced otherwise, but are not finding evidence to help in that regard.

Please watch this space for news on further developments.