A continuing resolution was attached to the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior/Environment appropriations bill. The House of Representative adopted that report Thursday by a vote of 247-178 followed by a 72-28 Senate vote in favor. The legislation now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. U.S. DOT and funding for many other departments is currently scheduled to expire Saturday under the terms of a previous continuing resolution.

The appropriations bill funding U.S. DOT and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for FY 2010 (HR 3288) has been passed in different form by both chambers. The Senate requested a conference committee Sept. 17, but the House has so far not appointed its conferees.

The reason for the delay is controversy over a Senate amendment that would require Amtrak to allow passengers to check firearms in their luggage, The Hill reported this week. Many representatives oppose the amendment and do not want it included in the conference report. Amtrak and its supporters argue the railroad needs more time and resources before it could again allow guns on board.

Under the terms of the Senate version, Amtrak would have until March 31 to permit checked firearms or the railroad would lose all of its federal funding. Such a consequence would bring a "cessation of train service nationwide," Amtrak Chairman Thomas Carper wrote to appropriators last month.

Amtrak allowed passengers to check guns in their luggage prior to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Under its current policy, only law-enforcement officers are allowed to have guns on Amtrak trains.

Proponents of the policy change say they only want the railroad to go back to its pre-2001 regulations.

"This would not be a new policy for Amtrak," said Andrew Arulanandam, National Rifle Association spokesman. "This would just be reverting to what was Amtrak policy prior to 9/11."