House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Set To Reauthorize Major Transportation Bills
By Ron Thaniel
February 17, 2003
On February 12, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (AK) said he aimed to have his panel approve $500 billion in multi-year authorizations in the 108th Congress.
"A safe and well maintained transportation system is essential to our national defense, our economic prosperity and to the high quality of life Americans enjoy. There is no better investment of federal dollars than spending on transportation infrastructure," said Chairman Young.
At the top of the list will be the next six-year highway and transit bill, which Chairman Young and Ranking Member James L. Oberstar (MN) are targeting at $350 billion. TEA-21 totaled $218 billion.
Concurrently, the committee must reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, with a goal of $50 billion over three years. That would be an increase of $10 billion over AIR-21.
In addition to the highway/transit and aviation bills, the committee plans to move an $80 billion high'speed rail bill; a $20 billion water pollution cleanup measure; a $4 billion to $5 billion measure authorizing Army Corps of Engineers projects, and $500 million for economic development of infrastructure and distressed areas.
"If we fail to adequately maintain and improve our highways, our aviation system, our water infrastructure system and our railways, we face a nation unable to move and unable to retain our economic prosperity," Young said.
"The current level of spending on transportation is simply not meeting the needs of the traveling public. Recent administration reports clearly indicate the need for substantial increases in transportation funding," said Young.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Conditions and Performance Report estimates the total cost to maintain highways and bridges at $75.9 billion annually over the next 20-year period, and the total cost to improve at $106.9 billion annually. For transit, the report estimates the total cost to maintain at an average of $14.84 billion per year and the total cost to improve at $20.62 billion per year. The President's FY04 budget request for highway is $29 billion and transit is $7.2 billion.
In addition, Chairman Young named Subcommittee Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Ranking Democratic Members. Those named were:
Aviation Subcommittee
Economic Development, Public Buildings & Emergency Management Subcommittee
- Steven C. LaTourette (OH), Chairman
- Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ranking Member
- Max Burns (GA), Vice-Chairman
Highways, Transit & Pipelines Subcommittee
- Thomas E. Petri (WI), Chairman
- William O. Lipinski (IL), Ranking Member
- Bob Beauprez (CO), Vice-Chairman
Railroads Subcommittee
- Jack Quinn (NY), Chairman
- Corrine Brown (FL), Ranking Member
- Jon C. Porter (NV), Vice-Chairman
Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee
- John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN), Chairman
- Jerry F. Costello (IL), Ranking Member
- Stevan Pearce (NM), Vice-Chairman
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