Washington, DC—The Senate’s failure to overcome the objections of a Republican Senator means funding for federal highway, transit and highway safety programs will run out at midnight Sunday night, Rep. Tim Bishop announced today.  The expiration may also force employee layoffs at the Department of Transportation, including the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“I find it outrageous that one Senator would kill a piece of legislation and cause chaos for our cities and states,” said Bishop, a Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Long Island will not be reimbursed for its federal share of highway projects until this mess gets sorted out. Once again, Republicans in Congress are playing games with the lives of hard working Americans in order to win political points.”

Letting the highway program lapse could put 90,000 jobs at risk in March – a critical time at the start of construction season --  as bills submitted by states or local transit agencies for highway and transit projects would go unpaid starting Monday morning. 

Employees at the three DOT agencies face layoffs beginning Tuesday unless Congress acts quickly to restore the lost funding.  A different bill pending in the House would extend SAFETEA-LU through the end of 2010.  That bill may come up for a vote as early as Tuesday, and it is possible that the employees would not be furloughed if there is assurance that enactment of a funding bill is imminent.

In the meantime, states may have to suspend work on some road and bridge projects while they wait for their reimbursement payments from the federal government.

The current surface transportation authorization act, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), was due to expire last September 30, but has been kept alive by a series of extensions while Congress considers a replacement authorization bill.  The latest extension expires this Sunday. 

In addition to blocking transportation funding, Republican Senator Jim Bunning is blocking passage of this several other measures, despite the serious consequences for families across this nation. Thanks to Sen. Bunning’s hold:

• Nearly 1.2 million jobless workers, will become ineligible for federal unemployment benefits in March with extended unemployment insurance program expiring.     
• Up to 2 million families could lose their access to broadcast television signals, after Sunday night.
• Some of the 47 million Americans enrolled in Medicare may not be able to access to their doctors, due to the cut in Medicare physician payments.
• The Small Business Administration’s loan guarantee program will not be able to raise the percentage of loan amounts that the it can guarantee or waive or reduce loan fees as originally planned

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