There must be no more extensions of the highway bill now under consideration in a joint House-Senate conference committee, said the committee chairman, Rep Don Young (R-Alaska).
The previous comprehensive authorization bill expired over 20 months ago and recently was extended to June 30, 2005.
Young predicted June 9 that an agreement could be reached by the committee by the latest deadline and the legislation sent to President Bush for consideration.
The White House has said the President will veto any bill that increases spending beyond $284 billion in the six-year proposal, but the Senate has added an additional $11-billion proposal.
The administration also supports the hours-of-service rule adopted April 23, 2003, but it opposes a House proposal that would require carriers to impose a fuel surcharge on shippers.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta made an argument for the administration on these issues and others in a June 7 letter to the conference committee. Click here to see the letter.