By Ron Thaniel
November 17, 2003

On November 12, House and Senate conferees on an $88.9 billion Transportation and Treasury appropriations bill included $1.2 billion for Amtrak, $33.8 billion for highway spending, $7.3 billion for mass transit and $14 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The $88.9 billion fiscal 2004 Transportation'treasury spending bill represents a $500 million increase over President Bush's request and a $4.9 billion increase over fiscal year 2003 spending.

It includes $33.8 billion in highway spending which is $4.5 billion over Presidents Bush's request and $6.1 billion more than the fiscal year 2003 spending level. The $33.8 billion spending level represents the Senate passed figure and is $400 million more than was included in the House appropriations bill.

The measure includes $7.3 billion for capital investments in mass transit. This spending level also reflects the amount included in the Senate bill and is $83 million more than the president's request.

On the always-complicated Amtrak front, the conferees agreed to $1.2 billion for Amtrak. The number includes $465 million for capital improvements, $760 million for operating loss subsidy and $60 million for commuter operations as well as $100 million for Department of Transportation loan deferment.

The $1.2 billion appropriation represents a major concession by opponents of Amtrak. The House subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ernest Istook (OK), approved $580 million for Amtrak when the appropriations process began mid'summer. The House passed bill, equal to the Administration's request, would have allocated $900 million for Amtrak.

The Senate passed bill contained $1.35 billion for Amtrak.

The measure includes $14 billion for Federal Aviation Administration operations, $36 million below the president's request.

Please visit the Conference's homepage at usmayors.org to review H.R. 2989 in greater detail.