House Appropriations Subcommittee Marks Up Fy '05 Transit Bill
July 16, 2004
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Yesterday the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation,
Treasury and Independent Agencies marked up its FY 2005 transportation appropriations
bill. The bill would fund the federal transit program at $7.249 billion, $16
million less than FY 2004; but provide $34.6 billion for highway investment,
an increase of $1 billion over last year.
The bill reportedly would provide an increase of approximately $200 million
over last year for transit formula funds but a cut of approximately $300 million
in the new starts program. Subcommittee Chair Istook (R-OK) said at the mark
up that only those new start projects that have a full-funding grant agreement,
as well as projects in Phoenix, New York, and Las Vegas which are close to
their agreements would receive earmarks. Detailed information about the bill
is not expected to become available until full Committee mark up, which is
tentatively scheduled for July 23.
The bill would fund Amtrak at $900 million, equal to the President's request
but a cut of $300 million from last year's appropriated level.
The next step is for full House Appropriations Committee consideration of
the bill, which as noted is tentatively scheduled for July 23. The Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee has not yet considered its version of the bill.
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Action Call!
Urge your congressional delegation from the House of Representatives
to urge the full House Appropriations Committee to support funding for
the federal transit program at the highest level possible and not to
change the longstanding and carefully balanced program allocation structure.
Point out that on April 2 the House approved its TEA 21 reauthorization
bill by a vote of 357 to 65, with an FY 2005 funding level of $7.75
billion for transit.
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Reauthorization Conference Delayed
With the current extension set to expire on July 31, the
TEA 21 Reauthorization Conference Committee postponed until further notice
a meeting scheduled for yesterday because key negotiators could not agree
on an overall funding level. House members continued to try to craft an alternative
to the Senate's six-year $318 billion proposal. Press reports indicate that
the House leadership was close to agreeing on a proposal that would provide
$288 billion in guaranteed funding. Indications are that the Senate was developing
support for a minimum of $295 billion in guaranteed funding.
While the two chambers appeared to be getting closer to agreement on an overall
funding level, significant obstacles remain: the White House has not backed
off its original $256 billion proposal; the House proposal apparently would
not provide a 95 percent rate of return to states of gas tax resources (a
key demand of several conferees); agreement had not been reached on highway/transit
funding levels; and time is running out as a practical matter. Conferees have
only until July 23 to reach agreement on an overall funding level before Congress
leaves for an extended summer recess. Congress also must pass another TEA
21 extension by that date, which could extend the federal transit and highway
programs until the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2004, or for some
longer period.
For more information, please contact Rob Healy in the APTA Government Affairs
Department at (202) 496-4811, or rhealy@apta.com.
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