Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

House Passes Five-Month Highway Bill Patch

House Republican leaders on July 15 pushed through an $8-billion plus measure to fund highway and infrastructure expenditures through December 18.

David Cullen
David Cullen[Former] Business/Washington Contributing Editor
Read David's Posts
July 16, 2015
House Passes Five-Month Highway Bill Patch

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) contends five-month patch will provide time to legislate a "fiscally responsible' long-term highway bill.

2 min to read


Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) contends five-month patch will provide time to legislate a "fiscally responsible' long-term highway bill.

The House has punted. Republican leaders on July 15 pushed through an $8-billion plus measure to fund highway and infrastructure expenditures through December 18 as Congress scrambles to come up with a long- or short-term solution before the extension of the MAP-21 infrastructure bill passed by Congress in May expires at the end of this month.

The Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, Part II (H.R. 3038) was passed 312-119 despite Democrats objecting that Congress should be determining how to pay for a longer-term bill rather than kicking the can down the road yet again.

Ad Loading...

The bill does not include an increase in federal fuel taxes. Instead, per news reports, the funding would be obtained mainly by applying $3 billion of savings from Transportation Security Administration fees and $5 billion derived from tax-compliance measures.

However, Senate GOP leaders remain adamant that they will keep pushing for a longer-term surface transportation package. As reported by The Hill newspaper, Senate Republicans have said they want at minimum to ensure the Highway Trust Fund remains solvent beyond the 2016 election and want to see a multi-year bill passed.

Complicating matters for the highway bill of all things is a tussle over reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, which is expected to be a provision in the Senate’s infrastructure-funding bill.

While the bank measure has significant support on Capitol Hill, it is adamantly opposed by some conservative lawmakers.

Their resistance may result in the Senate acting at the eleventh hour to present the House with a longer-term highway bill fitted with a rider that keeps going the Export-Import Bank.

Ad Loading...

In a statement, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, contended that H.R. 3038 “gives Chairman Paul Ryan and the [House] Ways and Means Committee time to continue working on the progress they have made to fund a long-term transportation bill that is fiscally responsible.”

He added that the funding enabled by the House bill is “fully paid for and will not add to the nation’s debt.”

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Operations

Skyline of London with a blue sky and an inset logo for Kooner.
OperationsMay 4, 2026

Kooner Fleet Management Solutions Expands Internationally with Launch in the UK

Kooner Fleet Management Solutions’ new Central England operations hub establishes a foundation for 24/7 fleet maintenance, mobile repair, and technician development across the UK.

Read More →
Host Lauren Fletcher gestures toward “Truck Chat Weekly Cheat Sheet” graphic highlighting driver input, TPMS benefits, and the end of International CV Series production.
Operationsby Lauren FletcherMay 4, 2026

Drivers Speak Up, TPMS Pays Off, and a Workhorse Retires | Weekly Cheat Sheet

Drivers are shaping fleet decisions, TPMS is delivering real savings, and a key workhorse is retiring. Plus quick hits on data, uptime, and new trucks.

Read More →
Graphic illustration of runners' feet on glowing pavement to the right, a big rig truck on the left, and headline for a virtual 5k to benefit truck drivers.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseMay 1, 2026

St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund Launches 2nd Annual Virtual 5K to Support Health and Wellness for Professional Drivers

St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund’s 2nd Annual Virtual 5K raises funds and awareness for over-the-road truck drivers facing illness or injury, and there’s still time to participate in this year’s event.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Open glowing book on a wooden table with candles, quill, and maps, with golden light and magical particles rising from its pages in a fantasy-style illustration.
Operationsby Lauren FletcherMay 1, 2026

The Future of Storytelling Still Belongs To Humans

New tools always change the process. They do not replace the instinct. From portrait painters adapting to photography to creators navigating AI, the people who matter most are still the ones who know how to see.

Read More →
“Legends of Fleet” featuring a dark textured background with gold accents, large metallic gold title text centered, and a framed portrait of Carl Nelson with subtitle identifying him as a retired fleet manager, along with Work Truck and Legend logos at the top.
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Carl Nelson's Journey, Sliding into Success | Fleet Legends

With more than four decades of experience across fleets such as AT&T and AmeriGas, Carl built a reputation for doing the work, leading through change, and helping to move the industry forward without ever making it about himself.

Read More →
Breakdowns, data & insights are the topics of the April 2026 Truck Chat Monthly Recap sponsored by Chevron REGI
OperationsApril 28, 2026

Breakdowns, Data Action, and Driver Insight Take Center Stage | Truck Chat Monthly April Recap

In this month’s news recap, we’re digging into why trucks are still failing in the field, how fleets are finally turning data into action, why driver feedback is becoming a critical operational tool, how fleet leaders are finding their voice, and where simple tech like TPMS is delivering real results.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A graphic image showing charts and graphs depicting cargo theft in the first quarter of 2026.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseApril 27, 2026

Cargo Theft Incident Volume Falls in First Quarter of 2026

Verisk CargoNet reported that supply chain crime events across the United States and Canada declined by 5.3% in the first quarter of 2026. However, confirmed cargo theft reports rose slightly, by 41 incidents.

Read More →
Graphic promoting Work Truck Exchange with bold text highlighting pre-scheduled meetings, limited spots remaining, and event details for Phoenix, Arizona.
Operationsby Lauren FletcherApril 27, 2026

Limited Spots Remain for Fleet Managers to Attend Work Truck Exchange

Limited spots remain for Work Truck Exchange in Phoenix. Fleet managers can connect through pre-scheduled meetings designed to deliver real solutions fast.

Read More →
Lauren Fletcher presenting Truck Chat Weekly Cheat Sheet graphic highlighting breakdowns, data action, and driver feedback trends in fleet operations.
Operationsby Lauren FletcherApril 27, 2026

Why Trucks Keep Failing, Plus Data Action and Driver Feedback

Fleets tackle breakdowns, act on data, and rethink driver feedback. Plus TPMS gains and key industry shifts in this week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Shades of Fleet Veterans in Fleet graphic with American flags and Work Truck branding highlighting military veterans’ impact on fleet leadership and operations
Operationsby Lauren FletcherApril 24, 2026

Call for Voices: Inviting Veterans in Fleet to Share Their Stories

Veterans in fleet, it's your turn! share how military experience shapes leadership, discipline, and real-world decision-making across today’s operations.

Read More →