FFY 2008 Budget Resolution Passed, Appropriations Cycle Begins
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Transit Security Funding Advances: $100 million added to FY 2007,
$400 million proposed for FY 2008
June 4 , 2007
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FY 2008 Budget Resolution Approved, FY 2008 Appropriations Underway
The House and Senate passed a joint budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 21) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 on May 17. The budget resolution sets discretionary funding levels that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will distribute among the twelve appropriations subcommittees. The resolution for FY 2008 assumes funding for transit and highway programs at the level authorized by SAFETEA-LU despite the President's proposal for a $309 million cut below the authorized level described below. Funding recommendations in the budget resolution are not binding, but its passage allows House and Senate Appropriations Committees to begin developing the annual spending bills.
With a final budget resolution in place, the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee held the first subcommittee markup on May 18 and approved the FY 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill described later in this report. Additional committee markups are expected in June, but a date has not yet been set for consideration of the FY 2008 Transportation Appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee also plans to hold committee markups in June, but the transportation bill will likely be later in the cycle.
The Bush Administration FY 2008 budget proposal recommends a funding level of $9.422 billion for the federal transit program. The administration's proposal represents an increase of $447.2 million or 5.0 percent over the FY 2007 appropriation level, but it would be $309 million less than the $9.731 billion level authorized and guaranteed for FY 2008 by SAFETEA-LU.
Action Call!
Contact your representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with the following message:
- Request that they support full funding of the federal transit program in FY 2008 at the $9.731 billion level authorized by SAFETEA-LU and recommended by the FY 2008 budget resolution.
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For more information on the FY 2008 Budget Resolution, the FY 2008 Administration Budget Proposal or the FY 2008 Appropriations process, please contact Homer Carlisle of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4810 or email hcarlisle@apta.com.
$100 Million Increase for Transit Security in FY 2007
On May 24, both the House and Senate approved the conference agreement on H.R. 2206, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veteran's Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. The bill provides $100 million in additional funding for transit, passenger and freight rail security grants for FY 2007. President Bush signed the bill, which primarily provides new funds for military operations in Iraq, into law the following day. The $100 million in the enacted bill will add to the $175 million that was appropriated last fall for a total of $275 million in transit security funding for FY 2007. Also included in the bill is $35 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula grants for transit agencies affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will decide how the additional $100 million for FY 2007 will be allocated. DHS released its Transit Security Grant Program guidance in January for FY 2007 with the announcement of a Tier I and Tier II structure for both rail and bus security grants. DHS will need to decide how the additional funding will be allocated and what transit agencies will be eligible to receive such funding.
FY 2008 DHS Appropriations Bill
On May 18, the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations approved its version of the FY 2008 DHS Appropriations bill. This was the first appropriations bill to be approved by a subcommittee in either chamber for the upcoming fiscal year. Included in the bill is $400 million for transit, passenger and freight rail security grants. It is expected that the bill will be marked up and considered in full committee following the Memorial Day recess which concludes today.
APTA testified before the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee at a February 13 hearing urging that the subcommittee provide no less than $545 million in funding for FY 2008 or at a level of authorized funding in legislation that is now moving through Congress. The Senate DHS Appropriations subcommittees could take action on its version of the FY 2008 DHS spending bill as early as June.
Transit Security Authorization Legislation
The House and Senate have approved separate bills authorizing multi-year federal transit and rail security programs. The Senate in March approved S. 4, a bill to implement 9/11 Commission recommendations which includes transit security authorizing legislation developed by the Senate Banking Committee. The Senate bill authorizes $3.5 billion for transit security and $1.2 billion for rail security over a three-year period. The same month, the House approved both a 9/11 Commission recommendation bill (H.R. 1) and a stand-alone transit and rail security bill, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 1401). The latter bill authorizes $3.36 billion for transit security and $2.4 billion for rail security over a four-year period. The House and Senate have not yet named conferees to reconcile differences between the respective bills, but a conference committee could convene as early as June.
For more information on transit security funding, please contact Tom Yedinak of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4865 or email tyedinak@apta.com.
Commuter Rail and Preemption of State Law by Federal Rail Safety Laws
While APTA supports the increased transit security funding authorization provided in the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 1401), other provisions in the bill would change current law relating to federal preemption of state and local laws for rail safety. The changes would undermine the consistency of rail safety regulations that apply to commuter railroads and potentially exacerbate liability costs for these public agencies. APTA has met with staff from the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction on the issue to urge Congress to preserve federal preemption in the case of rail safety law and prevent a situation where inconsistent rail safety standards at the state or local level results in a regulatory patchwork that is unworkable for commuter rail operations. APTA has also sent a letter to Congressional offices that addresses the issue. To see the letter, click HERE.
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Action Call!
Contact your representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with the following message:
- Urge them to preserve federal preemption in the case of rail safety law.
For more information on rail preemption, please contact Rob Healy of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4811 or email rhealy@apta.com. |
Rail Safety Legislation
The House Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill (H.R. 2095) on May 22 that makes changes to federal rail safety law and would directly affect commuter rail operations. During the subcommittee markup full committee Chairman Oberstar agreed to postpone the full committee markup that was scheduled for the next day so that majority and minority members of the committee could discuss differing views on issues with an aim toward developing a consensus bill. The measure could be considered by the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as early as the week of June 4.
The bill would increase the amount of off-duty time in the previous 24-hour period from 8 hours to 10 hours, and require at least one day off in a 7-day period. The measure also requires a plan to implement positive train control (PTC) systems by Class I railroads by 2015, with an emphasis on high-risk corridors such as those with significant movements of hazardous materials or where commuter or intercity passenger railroads operate, and makes other changes. During the subcommittee markup, several amendments were offered and withdrawn, including amendments on federal preemption in the case of rail safety laws and an amendment that would require PTC systems for commuter railroads 5 years before such systems were required for most Class I freight railroads.
For more information on rail safety, please contact Rob Healy of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4811 or email rhealy@apta.com.
House and Senate Begin Developing Energy and Climate Change Legislation
The Senate is expected to consider a wide-ranging legislative package in early or mid-June to promote energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new measure, the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 (S. 1419), contains provisions developed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that direct federal agencies to promote transit use, and it establishes small pilot programs for renewable fuels infrastructure and electric drive vehicles from which transit agencies could receive funds. The Senate is also expected to consider an energy tax package from the Senate Finance Committee in the coming weeks. In the House, several committees are also beginning to develop energy and climate change legislation. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to act first by holding a markup on an energy tax package shortly after the Memorial Day recess. /p>
APTA President William Millar testified on May 16 at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's first hearing on energy independence and climate change. To see his testimony, click HERE. APTA has also held meetings with Congressional staff and sent letters to members of the House and Senate committees developing energy legislation to urge Congress to promote greater public transportation use as a means to advance energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To see the letter, click HERE.
Action Call!
Contact your representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with the following message:
- Ask them to include public transportation solutions in energy and climate change legislation. Public transportation is already leading the way in reducing energy use and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on energy and climate change legislation, please contact Homer Carlisle of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4810 or email hcarlisle@apta.com. |
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