Mineta: Don't get Distracted by Money

Although likely to go unheeded, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta is telling Congress not to get too hung up on numbers when it comes to reauthorizing the federal surface transportation program. Mineta told the House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways the amount of money that goes into the program “will continue to be a matter of debate.” But he adds, “As the debate progresses, it should not be permitted to cloud a meaningful and necessary discussion of the many programmatic reforms” in the administration's proposal, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is pushing a six-year surface program worth $375 billion, significantly distant from the administration's proposal of about $250 billion. With the administration's funding plan so far from the congressional proposals, what may be taken more seriously are the administration's proposed programmatic reforms and extensive safety-related provisions. One area of debate is likely to be SAFETEA's proposed deferral of significant authority to state and local decision makers, getting rid of most discretionary grant programs. These programs generally have been driven by the earmarked priorities of congressional appropriators. The administration bill also seeks to trim the environmental review process for transportation projects. The reforms include a plan to set a six-month statute of limitations for challenges of decisions, and provisions allowing states to use highway funds to help environmental regulatory agencies move the review process along more quickly. The current surface transportation authorization expires Sept. 30.

House Bill Would Examine Future Water Resource Needs

The House Transportation Committee is considering water resource legislation that could lead to an expansion in water infrastructure construction. H.R. 135 would set up a commission to consider U.S. water needs. The panel would be required to identify incentives for developing a dependable water supply for the next 50 years. The commission would explore means for capturing flood water for conservation, develop financing options for public works programs, and develop strategies to repair existing infrastructure.

Airport Construction Bill Taxiing

Congress continues to move forward on legislation to fund the Airport Improvement Program, a key source of airport construction funds. Yet questions remain about whether legislators have time to complete the highway bill and the airport funding bill. House and Senate committees have approved multi-year bills reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration that would boost annual funding for the program. The House bill, a four-year proposal, would protect the Aviation Trust Fund by establishing safeguards to ensure the funds go to airport-related activities. The legislation would provide $3.4 billion to AIP in the first year of the bill, increasing $200 million each subsequent year. The Senate bill would provide AIP with $10.5 billion over three years. The Bush administration's proposal would hold AIP funding flat over three years at $3.4 billion. Both bills and the administration proposal would streamline the environmental review process for projects.

Charlotte S. Garvey is a Washington, D.C.-based writer specializing in environmental, natural resources, and other public policy issues.