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TRANSPORTATION from page 2 ...... . TEA -21 Reauthorization No action has been taken on legislation to reau- thorize the Transportation 'Equity Act of the 21" Century (TEA -21), which expires on September S9, 2003. The Administration and House and Senate transportation leaders remain at odds over the total funding amount, as well as the funding mechanism for the bill. The Administration released its six -year reauthori- zation bill, titled the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003" (SAFETEA), in May. The bill would provide $201 billion for highways and nearly $46 billion for transit. (A copy of the Administration's proposal is available at www.fhwa.dot.cov Although neither the House nor the Senate has introduced their legislative proposals, each have staked out positions. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is pressing for a six -year $375 billion transit and highway bill, which they hope to fund with an increase in the federal gas tax. However, the committee has found little support from House Republican leadership or the White House for a modification to the gas tax. The Senate is looking at a more modest bill totaling $311.5 billion. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the highway portion of the bill, is considering a proposal that would reauthorize the highway pro- gram over the next six years at $255 million. The Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over the transit portion of the bill, is considering funding transit at $56.5 million. Given the funding disagreements, most expect that Congress will move forward with a six -month extension of TEA -21 when Congress returns in September. Congressional Goods Movement Caucus As Congress gears up for reauthorization of TEA -21, Representatives Juanita Millender- McDonald (D -CA) and Lincoln Diaz -Balart (R -FL) have formed a bipartisan Goods Movement Caucus to focus on how transportation infrastructure can best support the movement of goods in a timely, efficient and safe manner. The caucus' agenda items are: • Separate the Borders and Corridors Program. Make them two distinct programs with separate funding levels that target speck economic corridors and borders that impact the secure and efficient movement of the nation's goods. • Increase funding levels for the Corridors Program and the Borders Program. • Investigate innovative measures for funding intermodal freight infrastructure. • Mobilize stakeholders and communities in developing plans that maximize their transporta- tion infrastructure to accommodate both the mobility of citizens and the safe and efficient movement of goods. • Increase Metropolitan Planning Organiza- tion (MPO) planning funds from 1 percent to 2 percent. • Advocate for the integration of Intelligent sp Tranortation Systems (ITS) technology to maximize and manage the capacity of our transportation infrastructure in connection with goods movement projects. To strengthen its effort, the caucus is seeking to increase its membership. Several California Members have already joined, including Repre- sentatives Juanita Millender- McDonald, Mike Honda, Bob Filner, Gary Miller, Grace Napolitano, Ellen Tauscher, Diane Watson, Dana Rohrabacher, Barbara Lee, Jane Harman, Edward Royce, and Lois Capps. Interested cities are urged to contact their representatives to join the caucus. To find or contact your representative, visit the League's online Advocacy Center at www.cacities.org/ advocacy. PAGE 6 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org