On Feb. 18, the House passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund government operations through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. The legislation would reduce federal spending in FY 2011 by $61 billion from FY 2010 enacted levels.

The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate, which was in recess last week, leaving few legislative days to work out a compromise solution before the current CR expires March 4. The Senate is not expected to approve the level of spending reductions contained in the House bill. Instead, it is expected to develop its own version of an FY 2011 CR.

The House bill, if enacted, would rescind $3.72 billion from the high-speed rail program from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriations and $2.475 billion from funds appropriated for FY 2010.

FTA program rescissions include reducing the New Starts and Small Starts program by $431 million below the FY 2010 level in FY 2011 and an additional $280 million from FY 2010. There would be no FY 2011 funding for the Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction program and the $75 million for this program from FY 2010 would be rescinded. The CR also would not fund the $150 million authorized for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in FY 2011.

Among FRA cuts is the elimination and rescission of the $50 million in FY 2010 grants for positive train control. There is also a reduction in transit security funding from $300 million to $100 million in the CR for the Department of Homeland Security.

Regarding long-term funding, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Rep. John Mica (R-FL), favorably reported out the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, which would extend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users through Sept. 30, 2011. The current extension expires March 4. The House plans to bring this legislation to the floor for consideration next week, and the Senate is expected to follow.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to introduce a one-month short-term CR so the House and Senate have more time to reach consensus on federal spending for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. He has instructed Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to prepare a "clean" CR that continues funding at FY 2010 levels.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has stated that any bill that does not honor the spending cuts approved by the House is unacceptable, setting up the possibility for a government shutdown if there is no agreement on a compromise bill.

APTA urges all its members to contact their elected officials concerning these funding proposals. See the most recent Legislative Alert online.

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