Bob Corker, from left, Lamar AlexanderTennessee's Republican U.S. senators split their votes today on a six-year reauthorization of federal highway programs.
The nearly last-minute vote was needed to avoid a shutoff Monday of federal funding for U.S. and state highway projects nationwide.
Sen. Lamar Alexander said he voted in favor of reauthorization.
"This multi-year highway bill will help Tennessee maintain good roads so jobs can keep coming and traffic jams can be addressed. While not perfect, it is better than short-term patches that waste dollars and make it hard to set priorities," Alexander said in a statement
Sen. Bob Corker said he vote against the bill, calling it "the very worst of Washington."
He said the legislation "uses 10 years of budget gimmicks and questionable policy changes to pay for only three years of spending."
"The Highway Trust Fund is one of the largest budgeting failures in the federal government, and I am extremely disappointed that both Republicans and Democrats continue to avoid enacting a permanent solution to the problem," said Corker. "This bill represents the very worst of Washington and exemplifies why the American people are so frustrated."
The Highway Trust Fund provides funding to states for highway and transit projects and is funded primarily by an 18.3 cent federal tax on gasoline and a 24.3 cent federal tax on diesel. The trust fund does not take in enough revenue each year to fully pay for highway and transit projects.
The DRIVE Act, also known as the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act, is a six-year reauthorization of transportation programs to give states certainty and allow them to plan for construction projects.
The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 65-34. The House approved the bill Wednesday.