Missouri Bicycle News

The following report on recent action in Congress in relation to the upcoming re-authorization of the federal transportation bill comes from the Surface Transportation Policy Project. This is a vital period to keep in contact with your Senators and Representative--let them know you support funding for bicycle and pedestrian access and projects:

In the absence of timely action on a TEA-21 renewal bill, the full House Appropriations Committee stepped into the vacuum and embraced provisions of its Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies that change existing surface transportation law, including elimination of the very innovative and broadly supported Transportation Enhancements program.

During action on the FY'04 transportation appropriations bill, the full Committee raised the Subcommittee's funding levels for Amtrak to $800 million, eliminated a cut in new start funding that shortchanged federal financial agreements with local sponsors now building rail transit projects and affirmed a substantial cut in the Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program. No action was taken to correct bill language that will make it more difficult for state and local areas to initiate future "new starts" projects, including report language that affirms the Bush Administration's policy request for a 50/50 matching share on future fixed guideway transit projects. Amtrak President David Gunn has already publicly advised the Congress that the proposed level will lead to the shutdown of the nation's intercity passenger rail corporation. JARC funding was reduced by Subcommittee to $85 million, well below the $150 million what TEA-21 guaranteed for FY'03.

Working to wrap-up action on pending appropriations bills for the new federal fiscal year that begins October 1, members of the House Appropriations Committee voted July 24 to defeat an amendment that would have restored the Transportation Enhancements to current law provisions as first set forth in the 1991 ISTEA law. An amendment by Rep. John Olver (D-MA) to restore the 10 set-aside of Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for the Transportation Enhancements program was defeated 29-33. Only two Republican Committee members - Reps. Ray Lahood (R-IL) and Mike Simpson (R-ID) - supported the Olver amendment. Aside from policy provisions affecting the transit program, the proposal to eliminate the Transportation Enhancements program was the only substantive change in the funding bill that affects any of the core highway programs set forth under ISTEA and TEA-21.

At the same time overall transit funding was being held essentially constant at $7.2 billion for the next fiscal year, the Committee bill raises highway funding, providing an obligation limitation of $33.3 billion to the states, up from the current spending level of $31.6 billion and substantially above the TEA-21-set level of $27.8 billion.

A major House floor fight on the transportation funding bill is expected in mid-September, where an amendment to restore the Enhancements program will be offered as well as an amendment to increase Amtrak's funding level.

Related:

News: TEA-21 renewal piddles its way through Congress

News: Representative to introduce amendment to re-fund Transportation Enhancements

permanent link to article: "U.S. House floor fight on Enhancements, other federal transportation issues likely for mid-September"
posted by Brent Hugh at 8/01/2003 05:06:27 PM |comment on this article