Various interest groups and 211 corporations recently urged the Bush administration to support a transportation reauthorization bill funded no lower than $318 billion. House and Senate differences over the details and financing of the legislation are being negotiated in a conference committee.

In a June 3 letter spearheaded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the businesses said the U.S. infrastructure system is ill-prepared to handle the higher and higher volumes of freight and people.

“Our 307,000 employees strongly urge your support in addressing the nation’s surface transportation needs and believe now is the time to approve a six-year authorization at a minimum of $318 billion. Our companies, and the American people, expect nothing less,” the letter said.

The administration has threatened to veto any reauthorization with a price tag above its $256 billion proposal. The House initially offered a $375 billion package, but cut that sum to $283 billion during floor debate on HR 3055. The Senate's bill, S 1072, is pegged at $318 billion.