The House bill provides $45 billion, a funding boost of $4 billion above President Barack Obama's budget request for federal-aid highway projects for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 ($3 billion more than was allocated to FHWA this fiscal year).

John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, wrote a letter last Friday to key House appropriators requesting that the increased funding for highways be approved by the full committee. The House transportation appropriations subcommittee had endorsed the $4 billion increase July 1 (see July 2 AASHTO Journal story), and the full committee agreed to the amount during the mark up Tuesday.   

"As the economy begins to recover overall, we are mindful that unemployment in the construction industry still remains at 20%," Horsley wrote in his letter to committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wisconsin, and subcommittee Chairman John Olver, D-Massachusetts. "The recovery act funding for highways and transit has demonstrated that the states can quickly initiate work and support jobs."

The Senate Appropriations Committee, however, chose to fund highways at $42 billion. That is $1 billion more than the president requested, but $3 billion less than the House version. The Senate chose to provide more funding to other programs, including the TIGER discretionary grant program, which the Senate bill would fund at $800 million next fiscal year versus $400 million in the House version. TIGER received $600 million this fiscal year.

Transportation Spending Bills for FY 2011 Clear Committees

The House Appropriations Committee, which approved its bill by voice vote Tuesday, provides $67 billion in discretionary spending for the U.S. Department of Transportation, a $500 million decrease from 2010 and just over $1 billion less than requested in the president's budget.

"Even with an allocation below last year, we were able to create a bill that continues to invest in our transportation and housing programs," Olver said.

Two amendments were made to the bill during Tuesday's mark up. Only one was related to transportation funding. Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, offered an amendment to the Federal Transit Administration's allocation, which was approved after changes by Olver.

LaTourette's amendment would allow for $250 million to be made available for the transportation secretary to make grants for the operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation.

An amendment proposed by Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-California, would have automatically cut highway spending to ensure the Highway Trust Fund maintains a balance of at least $4 billion. The committee voted 35-17 to reject the Lewis amendment.

All other Republican amendments were defeated by party-line votes. Democrats rejected Republican attempts to cut additional U.S. DOT programs and decrease the bill's funding by as much as 18%, bringing it closer to FY 2009 funding levels.

Senate Bill Would Spend a Bit More on Transportation

The bill approved Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee is slightly bigger than the House version. It includes $68 billion in discretionary funds for U.S. DOT, which is even with FY 2010 spending, but still below the president's request.

"This bill will make strong investments in our infrastructure," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington state, chairwoman of the Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee. "It will make sure the federal agencies that serve our communities have the resources they need to keep our commuters safe; communities moving and prospering; and fully fund aviation, highway, rail, and transit programs."

A difference between the two bills involves funding for high-speed rail. The House devoted $1.4 billion, while the Senate only approved $1.0 billion in funding. This fiscal year Congress appropriated $2.5 billion for high-speed and intercity passenger rail, following an $8 billion allocation in the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Both committees agreed that the $4 billion National Infrastructure Innovation & Financing Fund proposed by the president should not be included in the FY 2011 spending bill. Funding figures for most other transportation agencies match very closely in the two versions of the legislation.

The Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee's bill summary and a 30-page list of earmarks is available at tinyurl.com/THUDRA-bill. The House subcommittee's bill summary, funding charts, and a 29-page list of earmarks is available at tinyurl.com/THUD-bill.