House Appropriations Committee Approves Full Funding for FY 2008 Transit Program - $9.731 Billion, an 8.4% Increase
Senate Appropriations Committee Sets Transit Funding $134 Million Short of Authorized Level
July17, 2007
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Last week both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved their respective versions of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations (THUD) bill. In the House, the Appropriations Committee approved a bill last Wednesday that includes $9.731 billion for federal transit programs in FY 2008, the full amount authorized and guaranteed by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). If enacted, the $9.731 billion would be an increase of $756.1 million or 8.4 percent more than the FY 2007 enacted level. The committee had delayed consideration of the spending measure since June when the bill was marked-up in subcommittee in order to insert all of the earmarks before the bill goes to the House floor, which could occur as early as next week.
In the Senate, the FY 2008 THUD Appropriations bill was approved in subcommittee and full committee on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. The bill reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee contains $9.597 billion for transit in FY 2008, an increase of $622.1 million or 6.9 percent more than the FY 2007 enacted level. However, the Senate total is $134 million less than the level authorized by SAFETEA-LU. The shortfall occurs because the Senate Committee froze funding in the bill for the New Starts and Small Starts program at the FY 2007 level of $1.566 billion. New Start and Small Starts projects are authorized to receive $1.7 billion in FY 2008. All other elements of the federal transit program and all parts of the federal highway program under SAFETEA-LU are fully funded under the Senate Committee's reported bill. Consideration of the FY 2008 THUD Appropriations bill on the Senate floor is likely to be delayed until September at the earliest.
FY 2007 Enacted THUD Appropriations Law, FY 2008 SAFETEA-LU Authorized Levels --
& FY 2008 House and Senate Committee-Passed THUD Appropriations Bills
|
Program
| FY 2007 Enacted
(Millions)
| FY 2008 Authorization
(Millions)
| FY 2008 House Committee Passed
(Millions)
| FY 2008 Senate Committee Passed
(Millions)
|
|
Total All Programs |
8,974.8 |
9,730.9 |
9,730.9 |
9,596.9 |
|
Formula Programs Total |
7,262.8 |
7,872.9 |
7,872.9 |
7,872.9 |
| § 5307 Urbanized Area |
3,947.1 |
4,280.3 |
4,280.3 |
4,280.3 |
| § 5311 Rural Area |
467.0 |
506.5 |
506.5 |
506.5 |
| § 5310 Elderly and
Disabled |
117.0 |
127.0 |
127.0 |
127.0 |
| § 5317 New Freedom |
81.0 |
87.5 |
87.5 |
87.5 |
| § 5308 Clean Fuels
Formula |
45.0 |
49.0 |
49.0 |
49.0 |
| § 3038 Over-the Road Bus |
7.6 |
8.3 |
8.3 |
8.3 |
| § 5309 Fixed-Guideway
Modernization |
1,448.0 |
1,570.0 |
1,570.0 |
1,570.0 |
| § 5309 Bus and Bus
Facilities |
855.5 |
927.8 |
927.8 |
927.8 |
| § 5305 Planning |
99.0 |
107.0 |
107.0 |
107.0 |
| § 5316 Job Access and
Reverse Commute |
144.0 |
156.0 |
156.0 |
156.0 |
| § 5320 Alternative
Transportation in Parks |
23.0 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
| § 5335 National Transit
Database |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
| § 5339 Alternatives
Analysis |
25.0 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
| § 5309 New Starts/Small
Starts - Total |
1,566.0 |
1,700.0 |
1,700.0 |
1,566.0 |
|
Research and University
Centers |
61.0 |
65.5 |
65.5 |
65.5 |
|
FTA Operations |
85.0 |
92.5 |
92.5 |
92.5 |
Both the House and Senate versions of the FY 2008 THUD Appropriations legislation include specific earmarks for transit projects under the New Starts, Small Starts, Bus and Bus Facilities and Alternatives Analysis programs. As soon as the full earmarks become available in an electronic format, APTA will post them on the "Congressional Action" section of our website at http://www.apta.com/government_affairs/congress/. In addition, the Senate bill contains estimated FY 2008 apportionments for formula programs for States, but not specific urbanized areas.
ACTION CALL!
With Congress expected to be in recess during August, this is the perfect time to invite your U.S. Senators and your local Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives to visit your transit property. Also, contact your U.S. Senators, particularly members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, with the following message:
- Urge them to support full funding for public transportation in the FY 2008 Transportation Appropriations bill at the levels authorized by SAFETEA-LU.
- Explain that SAFETEA-LU authorizes increased investment for both public transportation and highways under a carefully balanced investment schedule that should be honored.
- Point out that the FY 2008 Budget Resolution assumed funding for both transit and highway programs at the SAFETEA-LU authorized levels.
For more information on the FY 2008 Appropriations process, please contact Paul Dean of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4810 or email pdean@apta.com. |
House and Senate Appoint Conferees for Bill to Address Transit Security
Both the House and Senate have appointed conferees to consider legislation that authorizes new funds for transit security grants. Pre-conference negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate provisions have progressed steadily over the past month. The Senate appointed its conferees last week, and the House appointed its conferees today. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have expressed their desire to complete the conference and enact the legislation before the August recess. However, the limited amount of time remaining before recess may delay passage of the bill until September.
Separately, there has been little action during the past month on the FY 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill (H.R. 2642). The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill on June 15, in a 268-150 vote. The House-passed bill appropriates $400 million for transit, passenger and freight rail security programs, the same amount approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 14 for transit and rail security programs. The Senate needs to bring its bill to the floor for consideration, but that may not occur until September.
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.
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