▁two ▁and ▁a ▁half ▁weeks ▁of ▁negoti ations , ▁the ▁conference ▁committee ▁was ▁still ▁dead locked . ▁Press ure ▁was ▁mount ing ▁on ▁the ▁House ▁conf ere es , ▁however . ▁Some ▁states ▁were ▁due ▁to ▁run ▁out ▁of ▁highway ▁construction ▁funds ▁on ▁June ▁ 3 0 , ▁and ▁the ▁construction ▁industry ▁was ▁pressing ▁the ▁House ▁conf ere es ▁to ▁give ▁way ▁on ▁the ▁mass ▁trans it ▁issue . ▁Furthermore , ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁oil ▁crisis ▁was ▁just ▁beginning , ▁causing ▁a ▁short age ▁of ▁gas oline ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁The ▁gas ▁short age ▁also ▁put ▁pressure ▁on ▁the ▁House ▁conf ere es ▁to ▁appro ve ▁fund ing ▁for ▁mass ▁trans it . ▁ ▁With ▁the ▁conference ▁committee ▁unable ▁to ▁report ▁a ▁bill , ▁the ▁Senate ▁passed ▁a ▁continu ing ▁resolution ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 5 ▁which ▁would ▁continue ▁to ▁fund ▁highway ▁construction ▁in ▁ 3 0 ▁states ▁for ▁four ▁more ▁months ▁at ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁levels . ▁The ▁House ▁was ▁rel uct ant ▁to ▁agree ▁to ▁such ▁a ▁measure , ▁since ▁it ▁would ▁only ▁lead ▁to ▁higher ▁pressure ▁over ▁time ▁for ▁a ▁comprom ise ▁on ▁the ▁mass ▁trans it ▁issue . ▁But ▁with ▁states ▁running ▁out ▁of ▁money , ▁the ▁House ▁passed ▁by ▁voice ▁vote ▁a ▁$ 1 . 5 ▁billion ▁highway ▁aid ▁continu ing ▁resolution . ▁ ▁The ▁conference ▁committee ▁reached ▁agreement ▁on ▁the ▁mass ▁trans it ▁issue ▁on ▁July ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁The ▁key ▁negoti ators