Congress Passes Omnibus Appropriations Bill
January 23, 2004
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On January 22, 2004, the Senate passed the FY 2004 Omnibus
Appropriations bill, which includes transportation funding for FY 2004. The
House approved the bill in December. The bill now goes to the President, who
has indicated he will sign it.
The Conference Report (108-401) on the bill essentially maintains the Transportation-Treasury
Appropriations bill finalized by the House-Senate Conference Committee on
November 12. Transit is funded at $7.266 billion, an increase of $40 million
over the Administration's request, and $87 million over FY 2003 levels. The
bill would fund Amtrak at $1.218 billion; the highway program at $32.8 billion;
and aviation programs at $13.9 billion.
Special Transit Provisions in FY 2004 Legislation
Look for information from FTA in its FY 2004 apportionment notice on the
following new transit provisions -
Pooled purchasing provision. Establishes an FTA purchase pooling
pilot program to allow transit systems to collaborate on bus and other procurements,
and directs FTA to report to the Appropriations Committees on the program
sixty days after contract award.
Restraint on transit advertising. Prohibits transit systems from accepting
advertising that promotes the legalization or medical use of controlled substances.
Operating assistance. Permits FTA to allow operating assistance up
to $10 million to be used in UZAs over 200,000 in population for a transit
provider with 25 or fewer vehicles for services for the elderly and persons
with disabilities.
Buy America study. Directs the DOT Inspector General to report by
March 1, 2004, on FTA's recent interpretations and exemptions under the Buy
America program.
Charter Bus study. Directs FTA to ensure the Appropriations Committees
that the charter bus provisions continue to be carried out in accordance with
the relevant provisions of federal transit law.
Continuation of commuter rail operations. Amtrak funding for the first
time includes language providing $59.6 million for directed services to be
available to continue commuter rail operations should Amtrak cease operations;
such funding would become available to Amtrak if unused by the 4th quarter.
The text of the omnibus Conference Report is printed in the November 25 Congressional
Record, which is available online on the THOMAS (http://thomas.loc.gov)
and GPO (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html)
websites. Earmarks for New Starts, JARC, and the Bus and Bus Facilities program
are available on the Government Affairs section of APTA's website at www.apta.com.
Action on TEA 21 Reauthorization
Both the House and Senate are moving ahead on TEA 21 reauthorization legislation.
The Senate Finance Committee may mark up a reauthorization revenue title as
early as Wednesday, January 28. The Committee is considering a range of options
including shifting exemptions from the gas tax to the General Fund through
tax credits and rebates, which would increase by $35 billion gas tax revenues
in the Highway Trust Fund (including the Mass Transit Account); this has not
yet been resolved. The Senate Banking Committee would mark up its bill shortly
thereafter; that bill is expected to provide $56.5 billion for transit. The
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plans to mark up its bill,
H.R. 3550, February 3 and 4.
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Action Call!
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Contact the members of the U.S. House of Representatives in your
congressional delegation and ask them to become co-sponsors of H.R.
3550, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA LU).
It is important to get as many co-sponsors as possible on the bill
to show broad congressional support for its passage. Please act now!
Use the Transit Action Center at www.apta.com to support Reauthorization
Now! efforts, and start planning now for Transit Takes Action Week
Feb 9-13.
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For further information, please contact APTA's Rob Healy at 202-496-4811.
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