The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure this week to extend federal highway funding to December 4 to prevent a federal highway shutdown; but also give more time for Congress to pass a multiple-year transportation measure. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the measure.

As reported by The Hill,

Lawmakers are hoping the latest temporary highway funding patch will provide time for them to finish work on a long-sought multiyear infrastructure bill.

“The House and Senate are making good progress in resolving differences between their respective multi-year surface transportation reauthorization proposals,” said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), who sponsored the temporary patch.

“The conference committee needs the time necessary to meet in public, complete negotiations, and produce a final measure that helps improve America’s infrastructure,” Shuster continued. “This clean extension provides time for that process to occur and for the House and Senate to vote on the final legislation, without shutting down transportation programs and projects in the meantime.”

Congress has not passed a federal transportation funding bill that has lasted for more than two-years since 2005.