Congress recently approved an extension of the 2005 federal surface transportation law through the end of March as part of a Defense Department fiscal 2010 spending bill.

The measure (H.R. 3326) was signed by President Barack Obama on Dec. 19.

Before adjourning for the holiday recess, House lawmakers also passed a $154 billion jobs bill (H.R. 2847) that would allocate $36 billion for highways and transit.

The bill includes an extension of SAFETEA-LU through the end of fiscal 2010 as lawmakers forge ahead on a multiyear, several-hundred-billion-dollar bill.

The House, Senate and Obama administration haven't built any consensus on what should be included in a multiyear package. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) has pushed for his proposal, while the administration and the Senate have urged Congress to approve an 18-month extension through March 2011.