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Six-Year Surface Transportation Bill Clears the Senate
The Senate passed a six-year highway and transit bill on July 30 by a 65-34 vote, setting the stage for the House to pass its own version of a multi-year reauthorization after it returns from the August recess in September. The hope is that a Senate-House agreement can be reached on a long-term surface transportation program before the current funding expires after Oct. 29. (See next article.)
APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy congratulated the Senate for its leadership saying, "It's a good starting point and it takes us closer to passage of bipartisan legislation that helps our communities and country." He also emphasized that there is more work to be done.
The Senate bill replenishes the Highway Trust Fund in the first three years by using a variety of revenue-raising measures. There is no provision yet for funding the final three years. See APTA's Legislative Alert for more details. Under the Senate-passed bill:
> Total transit authorization grows by almost 14.5% in the third year and by almost 25% in the sixth year.
> Bus & Bus Facilities program grows by more than 59% in the third year and by over 90% in the sixth year.
> State of Good Repair program grows by almost 17% in the third year and by over 25% in the sixth year.
> Urban & Rural Formula Grants grow by more than 7% in the third year and by over 17% in the sixth year.
> Capital Investment Grants grow by more than 26% in the third year and by close to 36% in the sixth year.
After Labor Day, the House is expected to pursue an alternative multi-year reauthorization bill that could be linked to changes in the way American companies' overseas profits are taxed, thereby providing new revenue to fund a six-year surface transportation program.