Last week the Senate passed the DRIVE Act (HR 22) by a vote of (65-34), providing a six-year reauthorization of guaranteed contract authority and three years of funding for highway and transit programs totaling $45 billion. NRMCA secured language in the DRIVE Act making permanent the Hours of Service 30-minute break rule exemption for the ready mixed concrete industry as well as languague that reforms the application process for other construction and transportation industries seeking exemptions with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. NRMCA is continuing to meet with Members of Congress to advocate for final passage of a long-term highway bill.

After passage of the six-year highway bill, the Senate immediately passed the three-month extension sent by the House the day before. The three-month extension, HR 3236, passed (91-4) in the Senate and by a vote of (385-34) in the House just one day before the highway trust fund faced a funding shortfall. The extension funds highway and transit programs until October 29 via another transfer of funds from the general fund. The House must now introduce a long-term bill or take up and pass the Senate’s highway bill before both chambers can go into conference on the highway bill. Taking up the highway bill again in the fall will be complicated due to other major legislative deadlines approaching when Congress returns, including spending bills to keep the government running, the Federal Aviation Administration’s authorization deadline and the Iran deal.