Surface Transportation Reauthorization Slows
Momentum toward a full, multi-year surface transportation reauthorization has slowed considerably since the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s bipartisan advancement of the BUILD America 250 Act in May. On July 22, 2026, Committee Chair Sam Graves, a Republican from Missouri, acknowledged that Congress will “probably” need a short-term extension of current highway and transit authorities, which expire September 30, 2026. The Senate has not yet introduced its own formal legislation, and several procedural and policy disputes remain unresolved.
Administration Outlines Priorities
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to the Senate this week, urging that a defined set of Administration priorities be included in either a short-term extension or a full reauthorization bill. Chief among them is a proposal to eliminate the Mass Transit Account and redirect all federal fuel tax revenues into the Highway Account, a move Sec. Duffy frames as restoring a “direct user-pays model.” This will be a hard sell in Congress.
Other priorities of the Secretary included consolidating numerous competitive grant programs, like merging the Bridge Investment Program and the Competitive Highway Bridge Program into a single Bridge Program, and restricting competitive and formula grant funding for bicycle lanes in favor of motor vehicle pathways.
Funding and Political Hurdles Remain
Significant hurdles remain before either an extension or a full bill can move. The House Ways and Means Committee, which controls funding, has not yet acted. Senate committees have not agreed on a topline funding number, and revisiting gas tax policy is politically delicate heading into the November midterms.
WRDA Offers a More Encouraging Outlook
On a brighter note, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a vital biennial law authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects such as flood control and navigation, offers a more encouraging picture. These projects depend on sustained investment in heavy concrete infrastructure.
On July 14, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee favorably reported WRDA by a bipartisan 66-0 vote, and the bill now awaits full House consideration. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee followed suit on July 15, unanimously approving companion legislation authorizing new water infrastructure projects.
This strong bipartisan momentum in both chambers signals continued congressional commitment to water infrastructure that relies heavily on precast concrete. Members should watch for internal Congressional negotiations on the topic in the months ahead.
What This Means for NPCA Members
For National Precast Concrete Association members, the likelihood of a stopgap extension on surface transportation means final enactment of new, long-term funding levels will likely be delayed into the fall or later. Still, the $580 billion topline figure from the House and the robust bridge and highway funding provisions already advanced in the House committee bill remain an encouraging signal for precast concrete producers and their customers.
Sec. Duffy’s letter reinforces that bridge funding consolidation and infrastructure expansion remain Administration priorities, even under an extension. Association members should continue to monitor developments closely and stay engaged with their congressional delegations as negotiations progress through the fall.
Mathew Morgan is a Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, a full-service national business law firm providing advice in all the areas required to do business in today’s marketplace. Matt provides companies and trade associations with strategic, legislative and political counsel on a variety of business-related issues, including taxation, trade/tariffs and appropriations matters. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Matt served in the White House from 2017-2020 as the chief counsel to the Vice President and as a deputy assistant to the President.