{
  "id": "98-208",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "98-208",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 104859,
      "date": "1998-12-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-05-24T20:48:38.955941",
      "title": "Appropriations for FY1999: Department of Transportation and Related Agencies",
      "summary": "For FY1999, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requested total funding of\napproximately\n$43 billion, a 1% increase over the FY1998 enacted level of $39 billion. The FY1999 budget request\nfor the DOT was similar in many respects to the FY1998 appropriation.\n  There are many \"macro\" issues or factors that are influencing the debate over the\nAdministration's FY1999 budget request. Some of them have been carried over from the previous\nfiscal year. Complicating the budget process had been the delay associated with reauthorizing many\nof the Department's programs.\n  The recently concluded reauthorization of surface transportation programs will dramatically\neffect the FY1999 appropriations process. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century ( P.L.\n105-178 , TEA-21) provides for an increase in spending at a level above that contemplated in the\nAdministration budget request. In addition, the new legislation provides a new budget environment\nfor highway and transit programs that limits the ability of the appropriations process to alter spending\nfor these activities. \n  In its FY1999 request, the Administration reiterated that safety is its highest priority, followed\nby technology development, environmental enhancement, infrastructure needs, and innovative\nfinancing. The budget proposal included requests of: $3.1 billion for direct safety funding; $30.0\nbillion for infrastructure investments; $1.1 billion for transportation research and development\n(R&D); and $0.6 billion for Amtrak (See CRS Issue Brief 97030).\n  On July 15, 1998, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported  S. 2307 \n( S.Rept. 105-249 ). The committee recommended total funding of approximately $47 billion for\nFY1999.  S. 2307  was passed by the Senate on July 24, 1998. Few amendments were\nmade, excepting one controversial proposal to bar the use of federal funds to impose \"project labor\nagreements\" on highway and transit fund projects. A compromise substitute was offered.\n  The House Appropriations Committee reported its own bill ( H.R. 4328 ,  H.Rept.\n105-648 ) which would have provided a total of $46.9 billion, an amount $4.8 billion greater than\nFY1998 and $3.9 billion greater than the amount requested by the Administration. The committee\nvoiced its objections to the impact of TEA-21 legislation, whose \"firewalls\" significantly limited its\nlatitude in funding. According to the report, \"These 'firewalls' make it virtually impossible for the\nAppropriations Committee to make downward adjustments to those funding levels in the annual\nappropriations process over the next 5 years.\"\n  By July 31, both the House and Senate had passed their respective bills; the House bill was\nreferred to the Senate; the Senate substituted its own language; and the House requested a conference\non the substitute amendment. See the \"Most Recent Developments\" section of this report for the\nlatest legislative action.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Appropriations",
    "Economic Policy"
  ]
}