President Obama Signs Three-Month Transportation Funding Bill

The Senate was hard at work on Thursday, passing not one but two transportation funding bills—first its controversial six-year (funded for three) transportation reauthorization bill, the DRIVE Act, and then, most importantly, the patch bill.

2 minute read

August 2, 2015, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Before continuing transportation spending after July 31 by passing the three-month Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 3236), the Senate first did what Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had set out to do from the onset: pass a six-year transportation reauthorization bill, the DRIVE Act.

It passed 65-34. "Fifteen Republican senators, including three 2016 presidential candidates, bucked McConnell and voted against the proposal," wrote Jordain Carney of The Hill on Thursday. The House will take it up when it returns from its six-week recess in September,.

By contrast, the three-month patch bill to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through Oct. 29 passed by a 91-4 vote. The $11.5 billion bill transfers $8.1 billion from the Treasury General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund and $3.4 billion to cover a shortfall in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The president signed the 34th transportation extension since 2009 on the deadline, July 31, as federal spending for highways would otherwise cease at midnight.

It was the third extension in the last 10 months, according to AASHTO's press release. While relieved that Congress passed the bill, he also expressed his frustration during the billing signing as he wanted a six-year reauthorization bill, preferably his Grow America Act.

"We can't keep on funding transportation by the seat of our pants, three months at a time. That’s just not how the greatest country on earth does business. I guarantee you that's not how China, Germany and other countries around the world handle their infrastructure."

"The $8 billion package signed by Obama extends infrastructure spending until Oct. 29, punting the debate until fall," writes The Hill's Jordan Fabian.

Not so fast on that deadline. "The transfer from the General Fund and the corresponding offsets in the three-month bill were identical to those in the five-month bill, writes Kellie Mejdrich of Roll Call, meaning that the bill has enough funding to last till Dec. 18.

"Heather Caygle [of Politico] explains that 'if the House and Senate are unable to pull together a long-term bill by the October deadline, they could easily just extend program authority for two months'," writes Jennifer Scholtes of Politico Morning Transportation. "That would drag out Highway Trust Fund uncertainty into December or beyond — and ultimately give House leaders the five-month extension they wanted all along," adds Caygle.

Friday, July 31, 2015 in The Hill

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

7 hours ago - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.