As Passenger Transport EXPRESS went to press, Congress was still in session, with tentative plans to come back between Christmas and New Year's Day to continue consideration of several major legislative efforts.

On Dec. 20, House Speaker John Boehner pulled from the House floor the so-called “Plan B” proposal--which would have extended most Bush-era tax cuts for taxpayers making less than $1 million annually--when it became apparent he did not have enough votes in the Republican Conference to pass the bill.

The Senate was scheduled to convene Dec. 21 after the funeral of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and vote on the defense appropriations bill.  More importantly for public transportation, if the Senate is able to invoke cloture on the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 1), the Hurricane Sandy supplemental appropriations bill, it will consider amendments and may vote on the bill.  This bill appropriates $60.4 billion for disaster relief, including $10.8 billion for recovery and mitigation efforts on public transportation and $336 million for Amtrak recovery. APTA has sent several letters in support of this legislation, including one on Dec. 20.

APTA continues to monitor negotiations on the fiscal cliff legislation as well, with more legislative action expected in the weeks ahead.