Lawmakers Begin to Explore Short-Term Highway Fund Boost

The Senate Finance Committee’s two top lawmakers said they want to fashion a short-term cash infusion for the U.S. Highway Trust Fund that will keep road and bridge projects going while Congress works on longer-term legislation.

Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said avoiding the prospect of stalled highway projects and laid-off construction workers may depend on adding $10 billion to keep the trust fund solvent through the end of this year. The panel’s top Republican, Orrin Hatch of Utah, said the two agree short-term action is needed.