U.S. HOUSE PASSES HIGHWAY BILL

Ag-Hours of Service made Permanent

The House easily passed an omnibus highway reauthorization package, a package including many sought-after special interest protections including making permanent the exemption for hours-of-service rules for ag commodities and farm supplies.

The bill authorizes $283.9 billion over six years for highway construction, public transportation, road safety programs, and repair bridges. The bill also includes special projects and money for every member's House district. It clarifies that states contributing gasoline tax money to the highway trust fund would get back 95% of their contribution without penalizing states that contribute less.

The hours-of-service amendment, offered by Rep. Jerry Moran (R, KS) clarifies the definition of "agricultural commodities" includes livestock, milk and other farm products, and making the ag exemption permanent, prevents the secretary of transportation from rolling back or revoking the exemption.

The Senate must now pass its version, with Sen. Conrad Burns (R, MT) proposing the hours of service language. Congress failed to pass the highway bill over the last 18 months in the face of a White House veto threat if the bill contributed to the federal deficit.