August 10th, 2005 - President signs SAFETEA-LU into law!

July 29, 2005 - Bill Passed!

We are delighted to report that the House & Senate have passed the transportation reauthorization bill.

July 20, 2005 - Mini Extension Agreed

Yesterday evening the House and Senate approved a two-day extension of TEA-21, allowing further time to resolve differences the two chambers have over the rate of return states will receive from the Federal Highways Trust Fund.

July 01, 2005 - Extension Passes

Late last night the Senate confirmed an earlier vote by the House to extend TEA-21 a further time. 

May 17, 2005 - Senate Passes Final Bill; Rejects Sessions Amendment

The Senate passed SAFETEA, its version of the federal transportation bill, on May 17th, with significant provisions to benefit bicycling and walking.

March 17, 2005 - Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Approved SAFETEA

Yesterday the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved SAFETEA (Safe Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005). The bill provides $284 billion funding for surface transportation projects until 2009.

March 11, 2005 - House approves TEA-LU

On Thursday March 10th the House overwhelmingly approved a $284 billion transportation bill that will provide funding for highway, transit and road safety projects until 2009. There is, however,  "a great bipartisan sentiment" for more funding, said House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member James Oberstar (D-Minnesota).   

Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) inserted language in the House bill to allow lawmakers to "reopen" the legislation after it becomes law to add more projects and funding to increase the minimum guaranteed rate of return states receive in aid from the federal Highway Trust Fund. The White House has threatened to veto the bill unless this provision is withdrawn from the final version.

The bill is similar to H.R. 3550, which died at the end of the 108th Congress. Spending would rise 42 percent over levels signed into law in the last reauthorization, in 1998.   From a bicycling perspective, all of our programs and initiatives remain intact. 

February 10, 2005 - TEA-21 Reauthorization Reintroduced in the House

Yesterday, Representative Don Young, Chairman of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, reintroduced  a $283.9 billion six-year transportation reauthorization bill, in line with the President’s FY06 budget. The policy features of the bill from the last Congress remain largely intact but there are some differences in funding. 

America Bikes is delighted that the House is moving quickly to reauthorize TEA-21. In addition to the continued protection of our core programs, we applaud the retention  of a national Safe Routes to School program that will provide $875 million over five years to states for projects to allow children to walk and bicycle to school, as well as other crucial bicycling measures that we worked  for during the previous Congress.

February 9, 2005 - The Budget & TEA-21 Reauthorization

This week the President released his Budget Proposal for FY’06. His request includes a $284  billion commitment  over six years to TEA-21 renewal, up $28 billion from last year’s proposal. Significantly, the Administration Budget calls for a 35 percent increase over TEA-21 at a time when many important domestic programs are being eliminated, cut or frozen at current spending levels. 

In Congress, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young has indicated his determination to  introduce a TEA-21 renewal bill this week. It is expected to follow the House-passed bill  from the last Congress, but may be introduced without specific funding levels.

December 8, 2004 - The 108th Congress Ends

No action taken on TEA-21 reauthorization.

September 30, 2004 - The House and Senate pass 8-month Extension

Slim hope that TEA-3 will pass by the end of the 108th Congress.

April 28, 2004 - The House Passes Extension

Today the House passed a 60-day extension of the Surface Transportation Programs in TEA-21 to provide funding while negotiations on the reauthorization continue.

November 19, 2003 - The House Releases Transportation Bill

The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.

October 31, 2003 - The U.S. Senate releases their version of "SAFETEA."

October 1, 2003 -  Extension signed.

President Bush signed a bill which provides a 5 month extension of TEA-21. This gives Congress until the end of February 2004 to complete work on TEA-3, though it is quite possible they will pass another extension at that point.