Republicans and Democrats in the Senate agreed to move forward with negotiations on the federal highway and transportation bill.

Democrats were refusing to name negotiators for a joint Senate-House conference committee on the bill. They said they were being excluded from the actual writing of the bills.

The Senate version of the bill authorizes $318 billion while the House version authorizes $284 billion. Both are above the $256 billion mark President Bush says he will accept.

The Indian Reservation Roads program is taken from a small portion of the federal highway funds. Depending on the final bill, tribes could receive up to $1.9 billion through fiscal year 2008.

Get the Story:
Senators Agree to End Impasse on Highway Bill (The New York Times 5/20)
pwnyt

Get the Bills:
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R.3550) | S.1072 (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003)

Relevant Links:
TEA-21 Reauthorization - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization
Tribal Transportation, DOT - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/natvamrc/index.htm

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