On September 21, 2011 the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee approved a bill to fund the Department of Transportation (DOT) highways program at current levels for the 2012 fiscal year: $41.1 billion. In contrast, the House of Representatives' Appropriations Committee proposed funding for highways to be set at an obligation limit of just $27 billion—a reduction of about 34% (though the contract authority for that a bill is set higher at $39.9 billion).

In addition to offering more financial support for highways, the Senate bill provides $550 million for the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants program, which is $23 million more than was allocated in FY2011. The House did not set aside and monies for the TIGER program.

The Senate also revived hopes for those that support high speed rail. Dick Durbin (D., IL) proposed an amendment to the Senate transit bill that offers $100 million for high speed rail projects. The monies would come from DOT earmarks that have since been rescinded.

Now that the Senate and House of Representatives have released their appropriations bills, Congress has meet to consider them alongside other alternatives, such as rolling out additional continuing resolutions until a compromise can be made between the two funding approaches.