WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rather than unveil the House version of the transportation authorization bill, House leaders, including Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman John L. Mica, released an outline of what the bill would look like, including a controversial plan to increase oil drilling to help pay for infrastructure projects, according to several sources.

Other details of the plan include consolidating duplicative parts of the federal transportation system, shifting responsibility to states and local governments to move transportation projects forward, increasing the ability to leverage financial resources, and significantly streamlining the process for projects, cutting red tape and federal paperwork, according to DC.Streetblogs.Com.

"The Speaker and Republicans today are offering a transportation jobs bill that will be a win-win-win for the American people. Americans will win by rebuilding our nation's infrastructure. Americans will win by putting millions to work. And Americans will win by having lower energy costs," said Mica in a statement.

"It is my hope to mark up in the coming weeks a solid blueprint for the future of America's transportation that will do the following: significantly streamline the process for projects by cutting red tape and unnecessary federal paperwork; consolidate duplicative federal transportation programs; provide flexibility, authority and responsibility to states and local governments to move transportation projects forward; and increase the ability to leverage financial resources and encourage more private sector participation in building infrastructure," Mica added.

For more about today's announcement, click here.

For more about expected aspects of the bill, click here.

For the Sierra Club's reaction to the plan, click here.