Politics

President Biden signs bill ending furlough of 3,700 transportation workers

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President Joe Biden signed a 30-day extension of the Highway Trust Fund into law Saturday afternoon, ensuring that nearly 4,000 federal employees won’t be furloughed.

The transportation funding for road and transit projects, included in the stalled “hard” infrastructure bill, expired Thursday after Democratic leaders failed to unify their caucus to pass the measure. The House voted late Friday to approve the one-month extension, before the Senate passed it earlier Saturday, ending the furlough for an estimated 3,700 Department of Transportation employees.

Many of the employees who were furloughed this week worked for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, chair of the Transportation Committee, said the temporary funding bill will allow Congress more time to pass President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill and spending package.

“Now we will continue our work to pass the Build Back Better agenda into law, including a historic investment in America’s infrastructure,” the Oregon Democrat said in a statement. Republicans and other critics have expressed concern about a possible scenario where Congress continues to pass short-term extensions rather than a permanent solution.

In a statement, Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said, “While AASHTO appreciates addressing the lapse in federal highway, transit and highway safety programs caused by the failure to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, short-term extensions are not a suitable way to govern.”

ARTICLE: PAUL MURDOCH

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: NEW YORK TIMES

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Paul Murdoch

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

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