Metro Would Lose Over $265 Million In Federal Funding Over the Next Two Years If Georgia Congressman’s Effort to Cut Federal Highway and Transit Funding Succeeds
Next week, Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) plans to offer a motion to instruct House conferees on the surface transportation bill (H.R. 4348). His motion to instruct conferees, as currently drafted, seeks to cut federal highway and transit funding by nearly 50% for the balance of federal Fiscal Year 2012 and by nearly 25% in federal Fiscal Year 2013. Adoption of the Broun motion to instruct conferees into law would result in a cut of over $265 million for our agency over a two year period. Specifically, our estimate is that the Broun motion to instruct conferees would cut $77.4 million in federal funding for our agency for the balance of federal Fiscal Year 2012 and $190.1 million for federal Fiscal Year 2013. As drafted this week, the Broun motion to instruct would limit total "funding out of the Highway Trust Fund" in Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 to the amounts that the Congressional Budget Office currently projects will be deposited in the Trust Fund under current law tax rates (plus interest on balances). Our Government Relations staff and Federal advocates will be informing members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation of the severe negative impact the Broun motion to instruct conferees, as currently drafted, would have on our agency. We will keep all Board members apprised of this matter as the Broun motion to instruct transportation conferees is considered by the House of Representatives next week.
U.S. House Transportation Spending Bill Slated for Consideration Next Week
The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, led by Chairman Tom Latham (R-IA) will mark-up legislation next week that would make Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction. The mark-up will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2012. Our Government Relations staff and Federal advocates have met with Chairman Latham and his staff and will be closely monitoring the mark-up on issues related to our Board-approved 2012 Legislative Program.
Support for America Fast Forward Continues to Grow Among Chambers of Commerce Nationwide
The private sector’s support for the America Fast Forward initiative continues to grow nationwide. Most recently, Chambers of Commerce from the States of Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas and North Carolina joined our initiative to have Congress adopt America Fast Forward as part of our nation’s next surface transportation bill. The America Fast Forward initiative, championed by our Board Chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and our entire Board of Directors, now enjoys the support of over 50 Chambers of Commerce from around the nation and also has the strong support of over 125 mayors from small, medium-size and large cities across the nation. Specifically, the following Chambers of Commerce recently joined the national America Fast Forward coalition - Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce (Rogers, Arkansas), Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (Topeka, Kansas), Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (Asheville, North Carolina) and the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce (Boise, Idaho).
Next week, Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) plans to offer a motion to instruct House conferees on the surface transportation bill (H.R. 4348). His motion to instruct conferees, as currently drafted, seeks to cut federal highway and transit funding by nearly 50% for the balance of federal Fiscal Year 2012 and by nearly 25% in federal Fiscal Year 2013. Adoption of the Broun motion to instruct conferees into law would result in a cut of over $265 million for our agency over a two year period. Specifically, our estimate is that the Broun motion to instruct conferees would cut $77.4 million in federal funding for our agency for the balance of federal Fiscal Year 2012 and $190.1 million for federal Fiscal Year 2013. As drafted this week, the Broun motion to instruct would limit total "funding out of the Highway Trust Fund" in Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 to the amounts that the Congressional Budget Office currently projects will be deposited in the Trust Fund under current law tax rates (plus interest on balances). Our Government Relations staff and Federal advocates will be informing members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation of the severe negative impact the Broun motion to instruct conferees, as currently drafted, would have on our agency. We will keep all Board members apprised of this matter as the Broun motion to instruct transportation conferees is considered by the House of Representatives next week.
U.S. House Transportation Spending Bill Slated for Consideration Next Week
The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, led by Chairman Tom Latham (R-IA) will mark-up legislation next week that would make Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction. The mark-up will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2012. Our Government Relations staff and Federal advocates have met with Chairman Latham and his staff and will be closely monitoring the mark-up on issues related to our Board-approved 2012 Legislative Program.
Support for America Fast Forward Continues to Grow Among Chambers of Commerce Nationwide
The private sector’s support for the America Fast Forward initiative continues to grow nationwide. Most recently, Chambers of Commerce from the States of Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas and North Carolina joined our initiative to have Congress adopt America Fast Forward as part of our nation’s next surface transportation bill. The America Fast Forward initiative, championed by our Board Chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and our entire Board of Directors, now enjoys the support of over 50 Chambers of Commerce from around the nation and also has the strong support of over 125 mayors from small, medium-size and large cities across the nation. Specifically, the following Chambers of Commerce recently joined the national America Fast Forward coalition - Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce (Rogers, Arkansas), Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (Topeka, Kansas), Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (Asheville, North Carolina) and the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce (Boise, Idaho).
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