Tuesday: Transportation bill amendments in the Senate

The second amendment (#1759), from Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), would ensure that private highways are not considered when apportioning federal highway funds.

After breaking for the weekly caucus lunches, the Senate will return at about 2:15 p.m. to consider several other amendments. The Senate is hoping to finish the following amendments today:

{mosads}Roberts amendment of a perfecting nature (#1826, as modified). This amendment will be subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold. 

Stabenow amendment to prevent a tax increase on American businesses and to provide certainty to job creators by extending certain expiring tax credits relating to energy (#1812, as modified). This amendment will be subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold.

DeMint amendment to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate certain energy tax subsidies and lower corporate income tax rate (#1589). This amendment will be subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold.

Menendez-Burr amendment to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify certain tax credits relating to energy, and for other purposes (#1782). This amendment will be subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold.

Coats-Lugar amendment to modify the apportionment formula to ensure that the percentage of apportioned funds received by a state is the same as the percentage of total gas taxes paid by the state (#1517).

Sherrod Brown amendment to close a loophole in current law that has allowed public infrastructure projects to be outsourced, to standardize the process by which the secretary of Transportation responds to requests for waivers to applicable Buy American provisions, and to require the secretary to report annually to Congress regarding such waivers (#1819).

Blunt amendment to modify the section relating to off-system bridges (#1540).

Merkley amendment to provide exemptions from requirements for certain farm vehicles (#1814).

Portman amendment to free states to spend gas taxes on their transportation priorities (#1736).

Klobuchar amendment to amend the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to provide clarification regarding the applicability of exemptions relating to the transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies, and for other purposes (#1617).

Corker amendment to lower the fiscal 2013 discretionary budget authority cap as set in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 by $20 billion in order to offset the general fund transfers to the Highway Trust Fund (#1785, as modified).

Shaheen amendment to increase the amount available for the operating cost of equipment and facilities for public transportation systems that operate fewer than 50 buses. (#1678).

Portman amendment to allow states to permit non-highway uses in rest areas along any highway (#1742).

Corker amendment to ensure that the aggregate amount made available for transportation projects for a fiscal year does not exceed the estimated amount available for those projects in the Highway Trust Fund for the fiscal year (#1810).

Carper amendment to provide states with additional flexibility (#1670).

Hutchison amendment to prohibit the imposition of new tolls on the federal-aid system, and for other purposes (#1568).

McCain amendment to enhance the natural quiet and safety of airspace of Grand Canyon National Park and for other purposes (#1669, as modified).

Alexander amendment to make technical corrections to certain provisions relating to overflights of national parks (#1779).

Boxer amendment to express the sense of the Senate that federal agencies should ensure that all applicable environmental reviews, approvals, licensing and permit requirements under federal law are completed on an expeditious basis after a disaster or emergency (#1816).

Paul amendment to permit emergency exemptions from compliance with certain laws for highway construction projects (#1556).