AASHTO Journal, 9 September 2011
The House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee approved by voice vote Thursday a Fiscal Year 2012 spending bill that would reduce federal highway and transit spending 34% in compliance with a House budget resolution passed in April. That resolution requires highway and transit spending be limited to levels that can be sustained by revenue into the Highway Trust Fund.The highway program’s obligation limit for next fiscal year would be set at $27 billion under the subcommittee’s bill, a reduction of $14.1 billion (34%) from the present level. President Barack Obama had requested $69.7 billion in his FY 2012 budget, desiring to infuse the Highway Trust Fund with additional resources to help spur job creation. The president again Thursday asked Congress to pass extra transportation funding, calling for $50 billion plus another $10 billion to create a national infrastructure bank. (see related story)
