Congress enters final negotiations on 6-year highway bill

WASHINGTON — The House approved legislation Thursday that could, someday, pave the way for construction of a highway directly linking Las Vegas and Reno.

The measure was included in a broader six-year transportation bill that would spend up to $325 billion on construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and transit systems if Congress can come up with a way to pay for the final three years.

Republicans and Democrats have struggled to find common ground on how to increase the Highway Trust Fund that currently relies on a federal fuel tax of 18.4 cents per gallon. The tax has not changed since 1993. Democrats had sought a 15-cent increase without success.

The bill offers no direct funding for the proposed I-11 northern extension, but does establish the project as a priority — a designation welcomed by Nevada lawmakers who say it will eventually lead to federal funding.

Specifically, the bill would extend the authorization of this project beyond the current parameters of Las Vegas to Phoenix to reach north to Interstate 80 and to interstates south of Tucson. And, the legislation also would authorize a new program that could help fund I-11 called the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program, said Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.

"Our federal transportation programs are vital to the economic development of the Las Vegas Valley," she said. "I am pleased that many of my proposals and amendments were included in this legislation."

House passage of the bill, on a 363-64 vote, means that Congress can begin negotiating a final version of the transportation bill that will then be put to both chambers for an up-or-down vote. The Senate approved its version in July. Both versions designate the proposed I-11 northern extension as a priority — making it more likely that the provision will remain in the final bill.

Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-Nev., who supports the I-11 extension, was named to the conference committee that will negotiate the final bill.

"House passage of the I-11 extension is very exciting news," said Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev. "Not only does this extension have the potential to open even more markets for tourism and trade, it means good paying jobs and an economic boost Nevadans are eager to see."

Congress faces a Nov. 20 deadline to complete work on a conference report and prevent a gap in highway funding.

Titus was also able to win approval of a provision encouraging local and state transportation planners to seek input from travel and tourism leaders before advancing projects; and a measure creating a national commission on travel infrastructure to ensure that the country's transportation resources are marshaled effectively to support the economically vital travel and tourism sector.

"This bill acknowledges the need to prioritize travel as an industry, because we are among the top sectors in creating activity and jobs on every rung of the economic ladder and in every corner of the country," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow.

The House also included in the bill a reauthorization of the controversial Export-Import Bank's charter, which expired in June. A similar provision was included in the Senate version.

Contact Peter Urban at purban@reviewjournal.com or at 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @PUrbanDC