Transportation agency closure avoided

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate approved a two-month extension of federal highway funding late Friday, averting a possible shutdown of several transportation agency programs.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., withdrew their objection to the extension late Friday after Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Texas, reversed himself and guaranteed support for a two month extension of the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Senate had already approved the Sept. 11 commission extension earlier in the day, but despite White House agreement on the move, Hastert had remained opposed.

The transportation funding extension was needed because Congress has yet to approve an extension of the 6-year federal surface transportation spending, which is to expire.

Without the Transportation funding action, the department would have been unable to pay about 5,000 employees Monday, forcing their furlough and the shutdown of numerous highway programs.