By Ron Thaniel
June 7, 2004

In the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call advertisement June 1reprinted below, the United States Conference of Mayors and other organizations urged Congress and the President to approve a six-year transportation reauthorization bill that funds core highway and transit programs at no less than $318 billion. Joining the Conference were National League of Cities (NLC) and National Association of Counties (NACo), the American Public Works Association (APWA), Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO), National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) and National Association of Development Organizations (NADO).

The advertisement noted that America must maintain and expand its highway and transit systems to keep the nation moving efficiently and safely. The advertisement also linked transportation investment with economic investment by stating investment in transportation infrastructure creates new jobs, preserves existing ones and connects Americans to their places of work.

Highlighting the concern that the individual cost of congestion exceeding $900 per driver, resulting in over $72 billion in lost wages and wasted fuel, the advertisement noted that reducing congestion improves the quality of life for Americans.

The local government associations highlighted that a well-funded transportation infrastructure pays dividends by helping keep Americans safe and secure during emergencies.

Local Government Coalition Letter to Transportation Leadership

In a May 26 letter to House and Senate transportation leaders, the Conference joined by the NLC. NACo, APWA, AMPO, National Association of County Engineers (NACE), NADO and NARC called on a six-year $318 billion reauthorization measure. A $318 billion reauthorization measure will permit cities to meet critical transportation needs.

The local government coalition noted that a bill at a significantly lower level than $318 billion only delays the inevitable investment and raises the eventual cost to preserve and expand our nationÕs transportation system and infrastructure.

Of key importance to the Conference, the coalition proclaimed their strong support for a transit program at $56.5 billion as identified in the Senate bill.

The coalition stated as more and more vehicles crowd roadways, traffic congestion has an increasingly debilitating effect on our quality life. To relieve congestion, the coalition urges no less than $56.5 billion to stimulate a dramatic expansion of high-capacity public transit systems, including light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, and bus service, including dedicated alignment bus rapid transit (BRT), express bus services and transit/HOV lanes. To view the local government letter to House and Senate transportation leaders and the Roll Call advertisement, visit the ConferenceÕs homepage at usmayors.org.

House Names Conferees As Roadblocks Remain

As U.S. Mayor goes to press, The United States House of Representatives named conference committee members for the TEA-21 reauthorization legislation as roadblocks remain. Substantial roadblocks await conferees. These include:

• funding levels;
• veto threat from the President directly linked to the funding level;
• substantial language and program differences;
• grievances of 28 states that say they pay more in federal gasoline taxes than they get back in federal assistance for road building and mass transit, commonly known as the 95 percent equity guarantee;
• expiration of the third extension at the end of June and the question, if needed, how long the fourth extension should be; and
• dwindling number of days before the month long August recess.

Veto Threat Looms Over Negotiations

In May, Republican leaders abandoned efforts to reach a pre-conference agreement with the Bush Administration on the funding level for the bill. After initially insisting on a funding level of $256 billion, the Administration has off the record refused to accept more than $275 billion, and has threatened to veto a final version reflecting either the House or Senate number.

Current law, which expired last October and has been extended three times, provides $218 billion in funding for the period 1998-2003.

House Conferees

Transportation Committee

Republicans

Don Young (AK)
Tom Petri (WI)
Sherwood Boehlert (NY)
Howard Coble (NC)
John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN)
John Mica (FL)
Peter Hoekstra (MI)
Vern Ehlers (MI)
Steven LaTourette (OH)
Spencer Bachus (AL)
Gary Miller (CA)
Dennis Rehberg (MT)
Bob Beauprez (CO)
Tom Delay (TX)

Democrats

James Oberstar (MN)
William Lipinski (IL)
Nichk Rahall (WV)
Peter DeFazio (OR)
Jerry Costello (IL)
Eleano Holmes Norton (DC)
Jerrold Nadler (NY)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Corrine Brown (FL)
Bob Filner (CA)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX)

Budget Committee

Jim Nussle (IA)
Chris Shays (CT)
John Spratt (SC)

Education & Workforce Committee

Charlie Norwood (GA)
Judy Biggert (IL)
George Miller (CA)

Energy & Commerce Committee

Joe Barton (TX)
Charles Pickering (MS)
John Dingell (MI)

Government Reform Committee

Tom Davis (VA)
Edward Schrock (VA)
Henry Waxman (CA)

Judiciary Committee

James Sensenbrenner (WI)
Lamar Smith (TX)
John Conyers (MI)

Resources Committee

Richard Pombo (CA)
Ron Kind (WI)

Science Committee

Wayne Gilchrest (MD)
Randy Neugebauer (TX)
Bart Gordon (TN)

Ways & Means Committee

William M. Thomas (CA)
Jim McCrery
Charles B. Rangel (NY)

Senate Conferees

Republicans

James M. Inhofe (OK)
John W. Warner (VA)
Christopher S. Bond (MO)
George V. Voinovich (OH)
Charles E. Grassley (IA)
Richard C. Shelby (AL)
Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
Trent Lott (MS)
Mitch McConnell (KY)
John McCain (AZ)
Don Nickles (OK)

Democrats

Thomas A. Daschle (SD)
James M. Jeffords (VT)
Harry Reid (NV)
Bob Graham (FL)
Joseph I. Lieberman (CT)
Barbara Boxer (CA)
Ernest F. Hollings (SC)
Paul S. Sarbanes (MD)
Max Baucus (MT)
Kent Conrad (ND)