Oppose Senate Finance Committee Proposal!
January 30, 2004
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Drafts of a Senate Finance Committee proposal to finance
TEA 21 reauthorization legislation became available last night. The Committee
may mark up the proposal Monday, February 2. The proposal would use a number
of methods (ethanol reforms, interest on Highway Trust Fund balances, spending
down of Trust Fund balances, rebates for fuel tax exemptions, etc.) to provide
some $255 billion in contract authority over six years for highway funding.
Regarding transit, the draft summary states that the Mass Transit Account
provides approximately $33 billion over six years, and then notes that "because
Banking seeks $56.5 billion in contract authority, an additional $20+ billion
in funding is needed to meet their goals." The proposal does not provide
for that additional funding, other than stating it could be made up from the
General Fund in the appropriations process. In short, growth in the transit
program is not provided for; in fact, the transit program effectively would
be cut below TEA 21 guaranteed levels.
Senate Banking Committee leadership opposes the proposal. On Monday, February
2, 2004, there will be efforts in the Senate to proceed to debate the reauthorization
bill by invoking cloture, which allows consideration of the measure to go
forward. Those opposing the Finance Committee proposal will oppose the cloture
vote.
APTA is working the issue here in Washington. The Americans for Transportation
Mobility coalition is sending a letter today to all Senators which provides,
among other things, that "any funding mechanism approved by the Senate
should include [the] firewalls as well as a minimum authorization level of
$255 billion for highways and $56.5 billion for public transportation."
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Action Call!
Contact your U.S. Senators and oppose any Senate Finance Committee
reauthorization financing proposal that fails to provide any growth
for the transit program and that would fund it below TEA 21 levels.
Tell them to oppose the cloture vote on the highway/transit bill expected
to come up this Monday, February 2. If the Senate cannot get 60 votes
for cloture, that will send a message that the Senate Finance Committee's
bill is unacceptable. Please act now!
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For further information, please contact APTA's Rob Healy at 202-496-4811.
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