Cheat Sheet

May 14, 2026

Transportation Bill May Move Next Week:  We are still hearing that the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee plans on marking up a surface transportation reauthorization measure—colloquially known as the Highway Bill—next week likely on May 20. Committee staff have been keeping a close hold on information but what we have learned is that a briefing of committee members’ staff (legislative assistants with transportation portfolios) is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow where committee staff will walk through provisions of the reauthorization bill. The minority still has not signed off on the measure. If that remains the case the timeline for consideration may slip again to allow more negotiations. We remain optimistic that truck weight reform language will be included in the underlying bill and as always we will keep  you apprised of developments.

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Still Alive:  As we have reported, an amendment to the Farm Bill reauthorization measure that passed the House a couple of weeks ago that would have broadened the definition of “renewable biomass” so that fuels derived from woody biomass could qualify for the RFS failed narrowly on the House floor. The effort continues in the Senate, where we have learned that Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman John Boozman is working closely with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) on compromise definitional language to help build support for this effort. An agreement on exact language has not yet been forged, but we understand the focus is on federal lands and building in protections for “old growth” and timber stands on other sensitive areas of our country’s federal forest holdings. The goals is to come to an agreement on language and include a provision in the Senate’s Farm Bill reauthorization measure. Again, the situation is fluid, but we will keep you posted. The Federation team continues to advocate in support of broadening the definition to help create markets for our residuals.