American Trucking Associations called on the Senate to adopt a shorter term patch for the Highway Trust Fund in order to pass a long-term, well-funded highway bill sooner, rather than later. “As the Senate takes up legislation this week to address the looming shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund by passing a temporary funding ‘patch’ and a short-term extension of MAP-21, ATA applauds the efforts of Finance Committee Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Hatch to find a bipartisan solution to fund the patch,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Furthermore, we strongly support the efforts of Sens. Boxer, Corker and Carper to change the deadline of the extension to December 19 of this year.” By shortening the patch, ATA believes Congress will be forced to act on a desperately needed long-term bill this year rather than letting our infrastructure issues drag into 2015. “ATA continues to seek an immediate solution to the impending insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund,” Graves said. “Moving from one funding crisis to another will force states to cancel or delay even more crucial highway projects, putting jobs and the economy at risk. The December deadline provides the cushion needed to avert near-term funding interruptions for states and provides ample time for lawmakers to resolve the long-term challenge facing the Trust Fund.”