FY 2005 Transportation-Treasury appropriations. slashed by $3 billion; one of only two that were cut

Pit & Quarry, July, 2004

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-Fla.) released what are known as 302(b) allocations for FY 2005 appropriations. These allocations put forth the amounts that each of the 13 appropriations subcommittees can dole out for the coming fiscal year. The Transportation-Treasury allocation is one of only two to see a decrease from FY 2004 levels, the other being Agriculture.

While Agriculture's allocation is reduced only by $60 million, Transportation-Treasury's allocation is slashed by $2.93 billion to $25.4 billion in FY 2005 from last year's enacted total of $28.4 billion. This figure is even $275 million less that President Bush's budget request.

The House 302(b) process only applies to discretionary budget authority and does not include the obligation limits on contract authority. As a result, agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and the FAA's Airport Improvement Program are funded outside of the 302(b) allocations and will not be directly impacted by the cut in funding.

Additionally, $1 billion of the $3 billion that was cut is attributable to election overhaul funding included in the FY 2004 omnibus.