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House GOP leaders scheduled a floor vote July 31 on their original $11 billion plan to shore up a cash-strapped federal highway account through May, in order to prevent the Department of Transportation from having to delay payouts to states Aug. 1.

The Senate on July 29 easily voted to send the House a nearly��$8 billion��bill that would fund federal highway programs through December, a move meant to force lawmakers to agree on a long-term funding plan for transportation construction projects nationwide.

Outgoing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Anne Ferro defended her agency’s regulations limiting the amount of time drivers are allowed to work, during what probably was her last appearance before Congress as the agency’s chief.

The chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee on July 28 criticized the primary source of funding for a House bill that would shore up the Highway Trust Fund, a day before the Senate is expected to vote on the legislation.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Anne Ferro will step down from her post next month, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced July 25.

Senators have reached an agreement on how to debate a highway funding bill, setting up floor votes on the measure��early next week, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.

With only two weeks remaining until Congress adjourns for the summer, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and the 11 secretaries of transportation before him urged Congress to pass a bill to boost the Highway Trust Fund before that account runs out of money next month.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said he thinks there will be enough senators next week who will support a 10-month Highway Trust Fund fix, legislation that easily advanced out of the House on July 15.