America Bikes is reporting that the transportation bill reauthorization process is on a roll again after sitting still for weeks. BOSS reported last month (BOSS_0413 & 0414) that the TEA bill safely passed through the House and Senate, but faced a threats from either inactivity or a veto from the President.
The Bill, which provides funding for bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian trail systems, and greenways, among other things, currently exists in two different versions one in the House of Representatives and one from the Senate. In order to move forward the two bodies need to get together and reconcile the differences.
America Bikes Campaign Manager Martha Roskowski said that Congress has only a short window to complete this process as the elections approach. If work is not complete by the time Congress recesses on July 23rd, they will likely pass a long-term extension and delay reauthorization until 2005.
Roskowski went on to say, “Issues like environmental protections and additional planning funding for metropolitan areas are expected to be contentious. But the biggest hurdle is the overall funding level. The Senate bill calls for $318 billion over 6 years, the House bill calls for $284 billion, and the President has threatened to veto anything over $256 billion ”
The $256 billion appears to be too little money to give all of the states what they need, and if the President does veto a more expensive bill, a Congressional override is unlikely this year. This one will most likely get delayed until after this election year is over.
