Fresh off of recess, Congress fast out of the gates on Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a draft fiscal 2013 spending bill that would provide $53.4 billion in discretionary spending for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments by a vote of 28 to 1—a decline of nearly $4 billion from the levels enacted in fiscal year 2012.

The bill’s $1.75 billion for rail infrastructure—with $1.45 billion for Amtrak—is a mixed bag for passenger trains.  On one hand, this funding level is $126 million more than the fiscal year 2012 enacted level.  Given the severe scrutiny directed at all discretionary spending, this can be seen as something of a victory. 

On the other hand, the Obama Administration had proposed $2.70 billion for passenger trains in their FY 2013 budget request, and Amtrak’s full FY 2013 request totals $2.17 billion.  While a continued surge in revenue from ridership has allowed the company to lower their request for federal operating support to $450 million (less than the $466 million appropriated by Congress in FY 2012), the FY 2013 request was based on meeting concrete needs—to expand the national rail fleet and improve aging infrastructure.  Passengers are now left to wonder what maintenance and investment will fall by the wayside.

The bills’ specifics include:

• $1.45 billion is for Amtrak. Of the total amount provided, not less than $20 million is directed to continue planning work on the trans-Hudson River Gateway tunnel project, which will ease a major choke point on the Northeast corridor.
• $100 million is for the High Performance Passenger Rail grant program to assist states with the improvement of existing intercity services, congestion mitigation and multi-state planning initiatives.
• $2.044 billion for the Federal Transit Administration's "New Starts" program—$89 million above the FY 2012 enacted level.  This program supports new or expanded public transportation services.
• $500 million for the TIGER grant program to support significant transportation projects in a wide variety of modes, including highways and bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight railroads, and port infrastructure. The funding level included in the bill is equal to the fiscal year 2012 enacted level.

The bill will till have to be approved by the full Senate. [The Senate Appropriations’ website has more.]

Surface Transportation Debate Continues

Yesterday, the House passed a 90-day extension by a vote of 293 to 127, which would continue existing surface transportation law until the end of September.  In what Congressional Quarterly called “an unusual confession of failure for a Speaker,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) admitted that he was dissatisfied with the level of Republican support for the multi-year transportation proposal put forth by the GOP.

“If I had my druthers, [our long-term bill] would have been on the floor six weeks ago. But there aren’t 218 votes,” said Boehner.

Senate Leadership has sounded a cautious note of optimism, saying that the 90-day House bill should serve as a starting point for negotiations to reconcile the House-version with the Senate’s version, which would extend surface transportation law through the end of 2013.

“The fact that the House voted to take a step forward on a surface transportation bill is encouraging,” said Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA).  “As long as they follow through and immediately appoint conferees so that Congress can complete its work and get a bill to the President’s desk.” 

Bonus Coverage

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in fine form at the launch event for POLITICO Pro Transportation.  Definitely worth checking out.