The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has remained committed to repealing the $8.7 billion rescission scheduled to take place as SAFETEA-LU’s current authorization expires September 30. Until the House passed its SAFETEA-LU extension plan (H.R. 3617) last week, the committee proposed an 18-month extension that would specifically address the impending rescission. However, Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) vowed to filibuster the 18-month extension plan, which would subsequently prevent the Senate from even considering H.R. 3617 prior to September 30 to potentially substitute the Senate-developed plan in its place. Sen. Voinovich also attempted a 12-month extension as his Environment and Public Works Committee marked up the extension last summer.

As of September 29, ranking members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee had signed on to a 3-month extension plan, which would retain the $8.7 billion rescission in funding for surface transportation programs. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said that the Senate will likely only have time to approve a bill by unanimous consent, which would prevent any efforts to deal with the rescission.