House leader rules out Senate version of highway bill

WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is ruling out House action on a long-term, must-pass highway bill the Senate is considering.

In an interview with reporters on Monday, the California Republican said definitively: “We’re not taking up the Senate bill.”

The Senate’s version of the highway bill, which is on track to pass later in the week, sets policy and authorizes transportation programs for six years, though with funding for only three of those years. The Senate also is moving toward reviving the federal Export-Import Bank and adding it to the bill.

The House has passed a five-month extension of transportation programs without the Export-Import Bank.

If Congress doesn’t act by Friday, states will lose money for highway and transit projects in the middle of the summer construction season.

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