JUNEAU -- U.S. Rep. Don Young will be one of the negotiators charged with ironing out differences between the House and Senate versions on a federal highway plan.

Young says the Senate-passed bill under consideration is a "complete disaster for Alaska" as currently written.

That bill would fund highway programs for two years, but also at stake in the bill is the question of whether the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Marine Highway System and Indian Reservation Roads will remain fully funded.

The House-passed bill is a short-term extension of federal highway funds that also includes a requirement to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

Fourteen members of the Senate and 33 members of the House have been chosen to lead the discussion. It wasn't immediately clear when the committee would convene.