of highway construction programs to
pay for the $200 million in federal fund-
ing. For example, the plan proposes
decreasing federal spending on projects
of local or regional significance and
would count money cut from existing
programs (and redirected towards new
projects) as part of the $200 billion total
investment in infrastructure.
Secretary of Transportation Elaine
Chao has said that the administra-
tion’s plan will go beyond traditional
infrastructure categories like highways,
transit, rail, waterways and ports to
also include energy, water, broadband
and veterans’ hospitals—all good things
for the U.S. economy and, most, for the
travel and tourism industry.
Courier: How will Congress respond?
Signal Group: We think Republican Sen.
Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the
Senate appropriations transportation
subcommittee, summed it up perfectly:
“The president’s budget request is
always subject to significant revision
by Congress, and this budget will be
no exception. Throughout my time in
the Senate, I have never seen a presi-
dent’s budget make it through Congress
unchanged.”
The reaction on the Hill has not been
supportive to date, and we’re reminded
of an old adage: “The president pro-
poses, and Congress disposes.”
Courier: What are the next steps in the
process?
Signal Group: Now that the president
has released his request, the focus
shifts to Congress. Think of the pro-
posed budget as a starting point for
the entire process. Congress has begun
holding hearings, meeting with stake-
holders and examining the proposed
budget to come up with their own legis-
lation. This is done through 12 separate
appropriations bills, each generated by
a specific subcommittee covering indi-
vidual federal agencies or groupings of
agencies. This process works in identical
fashion in both the House and Senate.
In recent years, few of the appropria-
tions bills have been passed as stand-
alone bills. The process generally has
led to the House passing a number of
bills that await Senate action, and as
time expires, Congress enacts a series
of continuing resolutions. CRs are
short-term spending bills that typically
maintain funding levels at the previous
year’s levels. Once the legislators are
ready to negotiate and finalize details
on long-term funding, Congress then
lumps appropriation bills together into
an omnibus package. But with a Sept.
30 deadline for the FY18 bills, Congress
has little time to act on this process, let
alone pass 12 separate appropriations
bills. There’s still much uncertainty sur-
rounding the timing of what will hap-
pen with funding, but it’s sure to be a
wild ride.
Signal Group is a Washington, D.C.,
lobbying firm retained by NTA to advise
members about travel-related issues and
legislation.
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