Eyes on September for Surface Transportation Bill

What happened: The BUILD America 250 Act (BA250), the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee’s five-year surface transportation proposal, will not be considered by the chamber until after the August congressional recess, according to T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves’ (R-Mo.) July 15 comments to the press. The House Ways & Means Committee, which generates the resources to support the measure’s investment levels, must act but is not expected to in July.

Senate committees are also working to release their surface transportation reauthorization bill, but timing is unclear. With limited legislative days remaining before Sept. 30, an extension of current law is growing likely.

In addition, Sept. 30 marks the end of the fiscal year, which means Congress is likely to pass an interim spending measure while work on Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills continues. This could advance in the House as soon as next week.

Why it matters: ARTBA will be focused on ensuring investment for all highway and public transportation programs is maintained in any short-term spending measure and authorization extension, while work on a long-term surface measure continues.  This goal is essential to ensure the planning and construction of transportation improvements is not impaired while Congress finalizes legislation.

What’s next: With House members slated to leave D.C., July 24 for the month of August, and senators to follow suit two weeks later, stakeholder engagement with members of Congress back in their states will be critical to shoring up federal support for transportation investment and building momentum for consideration of the BA250 Act in September.