Senate Funding Bill Extends Key Manufacturing Priorities

The Senate has released the text of a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government through mid-December. The bill includes extensions of key NAM priorities, including certain surface transportation programs and the Toxic Substances Control Act’s fee authority, all of which are otherwise set to expire on September 30.

• The bill would keep the programs running until December 11, giving legislators time to develop long-term solutions—which the NAM has urged Congress to enact.

What’s in it: The proposal provides prorated FY 2027 authorizations for 72 days for programs authorized from the Highway Trust Fund, Mass Transit Account, and General Fund. In addition, it would:

• Extend Highway Trust Fund expenditure authority through December 12, 2026;
• Apply a proportional FY 2027 obligation limitation for Highway Trust Fund programs; and
• Preserve unobligated funding for certain non-apportioned Highway Trust Fund programs through September 30, 2027.

TSCA included: The NAM has called for an extension of the fee authority, within its broader push for targeted reforms that will streamline review processes and prevent incongruous regulation.

• The fee authority allows EPA to collect up to 25% of TSCA implementation costs. If that authority lapses, delays and uncertainty would worsen.

The timeline: Yesterday, the Senate bill passed its first procedural hurdle by a vote of 89-4, signaling it will likely pass before senators depart for August recess.

• The House previously passed a slimmer version of their own funding bill on July 21.
• The two chambers will have to reconcile their bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30.

NAM in action: To get caught up on the NAM’s extensive advocacy for a robust surface transportation reauthorization bill, other infrastructure priorities, permitting reform and TSCA reauthorization and reform, check out its national “Building to Win” campaign and its recent TSCA reform policy roadmap.