House and Senate members will soon begin settling their differences on a multi-year federal transportation bill and Washington Congressman Rick Larsen will be among those negotiating.
Leaders in the Republican-controlled House appointed 16 Republicans and 12 Democrats, including Larsen, to take part in the talks. Larsen, an Everett Democrat, is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The two chambers will be seeking final agreement by Nov. 20 when the current highway funding bill expires. If no deal is in reach, Congress could pass a short-term extension.
On Thursday, the House overwhelmingly approved spending roughly $325 billion on highways, buses, ferries and other forms of transportation in the next six years. The legislation authorizes that much spending though it only earmarks enough money to cover about three years’ worth of expenditures.
The final bill contains provisions sought by Larsen to increase aid for Washington State Ferries, bike paths and sidewalks as well as help midsized cities access federal transportation resources.
The Senate passed its own version of a multi-year highway funding bill in July. It provided for three years worth of money.
Bills passed in both chambers also revive funding for the Export-Import Bank.
“I voted against amendments that would have hurt the Bank’s reauthorization chances,” Larsen said in a statement. “I am pleased the House maintained the integrity of the Export-Import Bank renewal that we already passed, so we can get the Bank back open for business as soon as possible.”
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