Hotline #87-A - May 25, 1999

The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.), this afternoon approved Amtrak's full budget request for fiscal 2000. This is $571 million for capital funding plus the full "transit definition" of allowable capital spending -- that is, capital funds could go to both maintenance-of-equipment and maintenance-of-way.

As far as we know, the full Senate Appropriations Committee plans to act May 27. Also, the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee plans to act May 27, though that could slip beyond Memorial Day.

It is still the right time to ask your legislators to push for Amtrak's $571 million and its right to spend that money on both maintenance of way and of equipment.

Appropriations leaders don't think the government can be funded without lifting the severe budget caps placed on federal spending two years ago. Appropriators plan to pass most bills -- including transportation -- early, without big funding cuts. This would leave other, huge "must-pass" bills for the end of the process. Then -- many believe -- raising the caps would be seen as much more acceptable than cutting other things like Social Security payments.