“I view infrastructure as an investment” that yields strong economic returns, Daines said. (Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press)
March 13, 2026 11:47 AM, EDT
Key Takeaways:
- Sens. Steve Daines and Catherine Cortez Masto said the upcoming surface transportation bill is a chance to boost infrastructure investment and improve freight mobility.
- The debate matters as the Highway Trust Fund faces a projected shortfall within two years after fuel tax rates remained unchanged since 1993.
- Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize highway programs while House and Senate committees plan bill action later in the spring.
WASHINGTON — Two senators involved in drafting the next surface transportation bill said March 11 they see major infrastructure investments as essential to strengthening the U.S. economy and improving freight mobility.
Sens. Steve Daines (R‑Mont.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D‑Nev.) said Congress’ upcoming work on a multiyear highway policy measure presents an opportunity to advance permitting reforms, expand transit and freight connectivity, and address supply chain delays. Both serve on committees responsible for shaping the bill’s funding levels and core policy provisions.
“I view infrastructure as an investment” that yields strong economic returns, Daines said during a panel discussion hosted by news organization Semafor. Cortez Masto echoed that assessment, emphasizing that bipartisan cooperation and continued engagement with industry and state partners will be critical to advancing the bill this year.
“We have to continue that investment,” Cortez Masto said, adding that public‑private partnerships will remain a priority.
Cortez Masto. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./Associated Press)
Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize federal highway programs. Senate committees with jurisdiction over the bill have not yet scheduled votes. In the House, aides familiar with the chamber’s planning say committee action is unlikely in mid‑March but expected later in the spring.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R‑Mo.) recently told state officials that his version of the bill would include about $550 billion for infrastructure improvements. Graves has signaled a focus on “traditional” surface programs — highways, bridges and key freight corridors — while also drawing on recommendations from other lawmakers and industry groups. “We’re going to have as much as we possibly can in terms of stakeholder and member requests in the base language,” he said.
Long‑term funding remains the central unresolved issue. The Highway Trust Fund — supported primarily by federal fuel taxes — is projected to fall short of program needs within two years. Gas and diesel tax rates have not been adjusted by Congress since 1993, creating persistent revenue gaps.
Federal highway programs are authorized through September under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. While the law injected significant money into transportation, the American Society of Civil Engineers last year issued a D+ grade for the nation’s road network, noting ongoing deficiencies even as some metrics have improved.
