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The Senate on July 30 approved both a House-passed, three-month extension of funding authority for highway programs and a six-year highway policy designed to reform several trucking regulations.

President Obama signed the three-month extension of funding for federal highways measures July 31, but criticized Congress for failing to agree on a longer-term solution.

Federal authority for highway programs will continue uninterrupted through October when President Obama signs a three-month funding extension of the Highway Trust Fund the Senate easily cleared July 30.

Before adjourning for the August break, House Republican leaders on July 29 garnered sufficient support from Democrats to send to the Senate a measure that would authorize funding for the Highway Trust Fund for three months.

A GOP-backed three-month funding patch for transportation programs that is advancing through the House, for which Senate Republican leaders have expressed support, would push a six-year transportation bill with several trucking provisions to the side, at least for now.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on July 23 called on Senate colleagues to support his proposal to attach to a six-year highway bill a requirement calling for a comprehensive review of twin 33-foot trailers before they are authorized for use nationwide.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on July 22 agreed to take up a six-year highway measure that would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to remove Compliance, Safety, and Accountability scores from public access until a comprehensive report and corrective plan about the scores is published.