Highway funding: Senate adopts 30-day extension



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The extension, which was passed unanimously and approved by the House on Friday night, now goes to President Joe Biden’s office for signature.

The effects of the funding lapse were already being felt on Friday. Nearly 4,000 federal employees have been made redundant because Congress did not extend funding, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation told CNN on Friday.

The holidays impact “around 3,700” employees, the spokesperson said, adding that the administration “continues to work closely with Congress to quickly re-authorize surface transportation programs.”

The extension was passed amid a wider debate among House Democrats to pass a $ 1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package as moderates and progressives continue to set a price and what’s included in a larger bill to meet President Joe Biden’s economic agenda.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed the vote on the $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill after the Progressive rebellion, potentially delaying consideration until Democrats reach agreement on a separate and much broader social safety net and climate legislation.

Senator Joe Manchin made it clear on Thursday that $ 1.5 trillion was the price he was prepared to accept for his party’s plan to expand the social safety net.

In a letter to Dear Colleague released Saturday morning, Pelosi reinforced the decision by Democratic leaders this week to delay the vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill in order to work on the economic bill that progressives want.

“Yesterday we extended Legislative Day from Thursday, September 30 to Friday, pushing for the adoption of the bipartite infrastructure framework and the advancement of Build Back Better. But it took longer to reach our goal. pass both bills, which we will do, ”she said. wrote.

Pelosi wrote in the letter that Congress must pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill by Oct. 31 before the extended surface transportation funding runs out.

“There is a surface transport clearance deadline of October 31, after a critical 30-day extension went through last night. We need to pass the BIF well before that date – the sooner the better, to get the jobs, ”she wrote.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Gregory Wallace, Melanie Zanona and Kristin Wilson contributed to this report.

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