Hotline #969: Bipartisan Bills Stall; Presidential Candidates Support Infrastructure...

Stalled by heated partisan battles over gun control, a response to the threat of the Zika virus, and birth control provisions, a bipartisan movement to pass a transportation budget for fiscal year 2017 has stalled. Senate and House appropriators have created positive bills that are closely aligned; both increase funding for Amtrak, passenger rail, and transit, with the House favoring the Northeast Corridor and the Senate focusing additional funds on the National Network and grant programs for the states. The Senate has already passed its version, and is simply waiting on the full House to vote before reconciling the bill in, ultimately sending it to the President’s desk. Unfortunately, the House has already adjourned for the July 4th holiday, and the full Congress will adjourn on July 15th to begin focusing on the Democratic and Republican national conventions. With gun control and Zika bills still looming, a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization that must be passed before July 15th,

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