Legislative Background
Recent Action on Highway Spending
Congress periodically considers a large spending measure reauthorizing Federal surface transportation programs. The multi-year bill usually clears Congress without much controversy because of the jobs and economic stimulus it creates. Over the past decade or so, however, Federal spending on highways and public transit has more than doubled, from about $19 billion a year to more than $40 billion. The last authorization legislation, known as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21, expired at the end of the last fiscal year (September 30, 2003), but Congress extended it for five months, until February 29, 2004. Administration Proposal….
