July 21, 2005 Press Contact: 
            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jenny Manley (202) 224-6404
            Appropriations Committee Reports FY 2006  
             Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and HUD Spending Bill


 
 
WASHINGTON, DC – The Appropriations Committee voted today to approve the fiscal 
year 2006 Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations bill.  This bill funds the Departments of Transportation, 
Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Federal Judiciary 
and Supreme Court, Amtrak and the Federal Election Commission.  Total 
discretionary funding for the bill is $65.37 billion.
 
FY 2005 Appropriation: $62.6 billion
President’s FY 2006 Request: $60.15 billion
FY 2006 Subcommittee Recommendation: $65.37 billion
 
 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
Essential Air Service (EAS) Program (funded though the Airport and Airway trust 
Fund): $110 million.  The Essential Air Service Program subsidizes scheduled air 
service to small communities that otherwise would not receive air service.
 
Federal Aviation Administration: $14.257 billion; FAA operations are funded at 
$8.176 billion, which is $463 million more than the fiscal year 2005 enacted 
level.  The bill provides $24.875 million to begin hiring and training new air 
traffic controllers and $90.5 million for the contract tower program which 
provides air traffic control services to airports that otherwise would not have 
a tower.  Included in this amount is $3.5 billion for the Airport Improvement 
Program (AIP) which funds runway improvements, terminal modifications and other 
important capacity and safety projects at airports.  Also, included is $2.4 
billion for facilities and equipment through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.  
This fund provides for improvement in the safety, capacity and efficiency of the 
Federal airways system through procurement and installation of new equipment and 
the construction and modernization of facilities to keep pace with aeronautical 
activity and in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s 
comprehensive capital investment plan. [CIP].
 
Federal Aid Highways:  $40.2 billion; this amount is about $5.2 billion more 
than the Administration’s request.  The bill also appropriates 70 million for 
the Appalachian Development Highway System.
 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:  $779 million; this amount is 
$321 million above the FY05 level.  These funds will maintain current programs 
and continue the mobilization and paid media initiatives that have proven so 
effective in increasing safety belt use and impaired driving awareness. 
 
Federal Railroad Administration:  $1.6 billion; this amount is $187 million 
below the FY05 enacted level and $1 billion above the Administration’s request.  
Of these funds, $1.45 billion is for Amtrak, $250 million above fiscal year 
2005.  The Senate Bill retains language adopted last year that provides funds 
for Amtrak to the Secretary of Transportation to make operating and capital 
grants to Amtrak, in an effort to increase the Department of Transportation’s 
oversight of the railroad.  The Secretary is required to approve funding for the 
operating losses and capital expenditures after receiving and reviewing a grant 
request for all train routes.  The Secretary is required to reserve funds to 
ensure that Amtrak’s contracts with commuter rail operators will continue even 
if Amtrak suspends operations.  The bill includes a provision requiring the 
establishment of a fair competitive bid procedure to demonstrate whether 
competition will provide higher quality passenger rail service at reasonable 
prices.  Finally, the bill prohibits Amtrak from offering food and beverage 
services if such services result in a monetary loss.
 
Federal Transit Administration:  $8.2 billion; this amount is $562 million above 
the FY05 enacted level and $427 million above the Administration’s request.  The 
following programs are funded through the Federal Transit Administration:  
formula grants, transit planning and research; rural transportation assistance; 
metropolitan, state, and national planning; capital investment grants; fixed 
guideway modernization; “new starts” program; buses and bus-related facilities; 
and job access and reverse commute grants.
 
Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration:  $490 million.  This funding 
provides for the operating and program expenses of the FMCSA as well as the 
National Motor Carrier Safety Program.
 
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation:  $16.284 million; this amount is 
$511 million above the FY05 level and $8 million above the Administration’s 
request.
 
Maritime Administration:  $323 million; this amount is $103 million above the 
Administration’s request.  The Senate bill provides $21 million for disposal of 
obsolete merchant type vessels in the national defense reserve fleet, many of 
which pose a significant environmental threat.  The bill includes $25 million 
for the National Defense Tank Vessel Construction Program, which is designed to 
provide financial assistance for shipbuilders to construct U.S. flagged oil 
tankers for the use in commerce and for the military.
 
Office of the Inspector General: $62.5 million; this is $3.9 million above the 
FY05 enacted level and the same as the Administration’s budget request. 
 
Surface Transportation Board:  $23 million; this amount is $3 million above FY05 
level and the same as the Administration’s request.
 
Administrative Office: $72 million, which is $5 million above the FY05 level.