Conference Committee

Hansen expects the measures eventually will clear the House and Senate. He says, "Will it happen by March 31? It could, but they may need a smaller extension."

The sooner the two bills are approved, the quicker a House-Senate conference committee can begin to reconcile the measures' many differences. That would produce a final long-term bill and end transportation construction firms' protracted funding by stopgaps. Hansen says of the House and Senate measures, "These are two tickets to paradise."

Pam Whitted, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association senior vice president for legislative and regulatory affairs, says, "I think, ultimately, you're going to end up with something that is closer to the Senate bill … because it's bipartisan."