The 111th Congress went into its Christmas recess last week with two very big items remaining on its agenda of major importance to education and the related service of transportation: jobs and highway funding.

The House last week passed its version, H.R. 2847, of the 154 billion jobs bill by the skin of its teeth, 217 votes for to 212 against. As a result the National Association of School Transportation wrote to its members that passage in the Senate will be difficult.

While funds to create and retain education jobs is vital for teachers and transportation professionals alike, the latter group should be especially interested in the future of the current surface transportation bill. SAFETEA-LU expired at the end of September, but Congress has now extended it twice to keep federal funds flowing to states. A provision of the jobs bill, HR 2847, would provide a further extension until Sept. 30, 2010.

In addition, 100 percent of the federal share on transportation projects would continue through the current fiscal year, and lost interest on the highway trust fund would be restored. It would also repeal a restriction that blocks the Highway Trust Fund from earning interest and ensure that fuel tax exemptions are taken from the general fund instead of the trust fund. The school bus industry, especially, is hopeful that its fuel tax exemptions won’t be taken away to help give a shot in the arm to the depleted Highway Trust Fund.

There’s also a SAFETEA-LU provision in the $636 billion Defense appropriations Act, H.R. 3326, passed by the House last week by a much wider 395 to 34 vote. NSTA said the legislation extends SAFETEA-LU and the provisions of the current continuing resolution for Highway Trust Fund programs through Feb. 28, 2010, the likely operable next deadline.