[JURIST] The US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure [official website] Wednesday approved the Transportation Equity Act [Thomas bill summary; bill text, PDF; committee executive summary, PDF]. The six-year, $284 billion highway and mass transit bill stalled last year over funding disputes between the White House and Congress, but chances for passage are now improved, as the White House supports the current version. The infrastructure initiative will significantly expand the current highway spending program, which has been running on temporary extensions since the last six-year plan expired in 2003, and is meant to help solve problems of increased congestion and deteriorating conditions on US highways. A full House vote on the bill is expected next week. AP has more.