The House passed measures on Thursday that could put nearly $49 billion toward Department of Transportation infrastructure projects and increase the flow of money to the Highway Trust Fund.  

The Jobs for Main Street bill squeaked through by a 217-212 margin. The Senate is not expected to take up the measure until January. It would divert $75 billion of unused funds in the Troubled Asset Relief Program to DOT and several other departments.

The bill also returns some $20 billion in Highway Trust Fund interest from the U.S. general fund, and allows the HTF to keep any new interest earned on fuel tax revenue.

A provision in the Defense Department appropriations bill extends DOT’s authority to disburse money for transportation programs until February 2010, to give the Senate time to consider the House jobs measure. The House approved the bill 395-34, and adopted amendments already approved by the Senate. The bill now will go to the president for signature.

While the House pushed through a blizzard of late-term legislation, the White House announced that President Obama on Thursday signed into law an omnibus appropriations bill that includes a fiscal 2010 budget for DOT. The president also signed a bill that extends expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund until March 31, 2010.

Posted originally: 2009-12-17 09:45:42