Hopes for a TEA-21 reauthorization funding level above the $283.9 billion in the House measure were diminished somewhat June 14 when House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) said conferees on the legislation should stick to the House number. Thomas had as recently as last week indicated a willingness to find a compromise between the House number and the Senate level of $294.5 billion. He now appears to be taking that idea off the table.

Key staffers on both sides of the Capitol have told us in recent days that if a number is not settled on this week, it will be very difficult to get a bill done before the July 4th recess. The most recent extension of TEA-21 programs expires on June 30. We will be assessing the situation constantly and will report to you as we learn more.