House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-W.V.) have introduced a bill to extend highway and transit authorization through the end of FY 2011.

President Obama submitted his fiscal year 2012 budget request to Congress that asked for a significant boost in transportation funding and outlined the Administration’s principles for a six year $556 billion surface transportation reauthorization proposal.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a number of changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) regulations that will impact contractors working on FHWA, FAA and FTA funded contracts.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is scheduled to address the closing session on Friday, March 25, 2011 during AGC’s 92nd Annual Convention, held in conjunction with the 2011 CONEXPO-CON/AGG tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The House Republican leadership continues to work with its rank and file members to develop a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through the remainder of FY 2011. The federal government is currently operating on a continuing resolution that expires March 4 because the last Congress did not pass any of the 12 full-year appropriations measures for the current federal fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

Vice President Joseph Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood this week announced the Administration’s intent to request a significant increase in funding for its high speed rail initiative.

The House Budget Committee Chairman on Thursday announced spending caps that will govern debate on the continuing resolution that is currently funding all government programs until March 4. The budget caps will reduce spending government wide by about $32 billion from 2010 spending levels. Specific spending cuts have not yet been decided, however, every category of spending other than defense is forecast to be reduced.

The Senate has taken up the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill as its first major piece of legislation for the 112th Congress. FAA authorization expired on September 30, 2007 and the program has been operating under a series of 17 short term extensions ever since.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) announced the locations for a series of national field hearings and public forums, the first step in drafting multi-year surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

While calling for a five year freeze in government spending in his State of the Union address, President Obama nevertheless also called for the need to invest in infrastructure.