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What Are Elected Officials Saying About I-73

UPDATES

TEA-21 Reauthorization Bill Introduced In House, Administration Releases 2006 Budget

Both Congress and the Administration have begun to move forward in an effort to complete reauthorization of federal highway and public transit legislation, TEA-21.

First, on February 7, President Bush submitted his fiscal year 2006 budget. In the budget, the Administration increased its TEA-21 reauthorization funding levels from $256 billion over six years to $284 billion. This $28 billion increase is due to the efforts of congressional transportation leaders and the members of ATM and other interest groups highlighting the importance of transportation investment. In response to the Administration's proposal, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced a six-year highway and transit funding bill that would guarantee $284 billion through 2009. The bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3) - "The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users" (TEA LU), is expected to be marked up by the full transportation committee before the President's Day recess and reach the House floor in early March. The bill includes the same policy provisions as last year's House bill (H.R. 3550) and is actually a $4.5 billion increase over the House-passed bill last year. For more details on H.R 3, check out the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee website: http://www.house.gov/transportation/.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to move forward with its bill, also similar to the bill (S. 1072) that passed 76-21 in February 2004. Senate action will take place in March.