By Ron Thaniel
November 17, 2003

On November 12, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a $255 billion bill (S. 1072) reauthorizing the highway portion of TEA-21. The bill did not address revenue or the absence of guaranteed funding levels for states.

The measure would authorize $221.7 billion for highway programs over six years, though authorizers have said the goal for the bill is $255 billion. Those figures will be reconciled when the formula for calculating how much money each state will receive is added to the bill.

The question of guaranteed funding was briefly addressed prior to the Environment and Public Works markup. Committee members received funding estimates only.

Committee Chairman James M. Inhofe (OK), said the issue of guaranteed funding would not be revisited until the bill is on the floor, but promised to hold a members'only briefing on this issue the day of the President's 2004 State of the Union address in January.

How to pay for the bill is an unresolved issue. Several proposals have been put forth to cover the bill which is expected to be in the $311 billion ballpark when the final bill is assembled with input from the Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee responsible for the transit title.

Paying for the reauthorization of TEA-21 has been a sizzling topic in Washington over the past year. With revenue from the Highway Trust Fund being insufficient to cover the overwhelming need, several proposals have been put forth, including increasing the gas tax, floating construction bonds, spending down the Highway Trust Fund, and using General Revenue. To date, none are being discussed seriously. Also, a veto threat has been leveled against any bill that would raise taxes.

In addition to the revenue and guaranteed funding issues, the Environment and Public Works Committee voted on a number of amendments, including:

• Maintaining current proportions of STP funds suballocated to metropolitan planning organizations
• Maintaining Transportation, Community and System Preservation as a stand-alone program
• Setting aside two percent of the Surface Transportation Program funds for storm water improvement projects
• Raising the Metropolitan Planning funding to one-and-one-half percent of the total core programs — up from one percent
• Moved an amendment that would require the transportation system study to address passenger and freight rail conditions and needs
• Increasing the Safe Routes to School set-aside to $70 million annually

More amendments are expected when this bill is considered on the Senate floor next year.

Congress approved a temporary extension of TEA-21 earlier this year that expires February 29, 2004. Please visit the Conference's website: usmayors.org to view the Conference's reauthorization platform.