The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s priorities in the 111th Congress will include infrastructure legislation. Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said on Oct. 24, “Our central goal in the next Congress will be economic recovery,” and noted the EPW committee’s responsibilities for highways, water and wastewater programs and flood control.

The panel will have the lead Senate role in drafting the highway title of a new, multiyear surface transportation bill. That measure will succeed SAFETEA-LU, which expires on Sept. 30.

The committee in September cleared a bill to reauthorize Clean Water and drinking water State Revolving Funds, but there was no floor action before the Senate’s pre-election break.