House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, who is likely the successor to outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, said Friday “we’re going to get the highway bill done.” McCarthy is currently the GOP majority leader and says the House will consider a transportation bill this month. The current surface transportation authorization expires at the end of October, meaning the House has limited time to tackle a bill. The Senate in June passed a six-year bill known as the DRIVE Act. However, the Senate bill only included enough funding to pay for three years of programs, according to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
McCarthy pledged a six-year transportation funding bill that would not increase the federal gas tax. His comments come as Representative Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, urged Transportation Committee members to pass a highway funding bill on to the full chamber.