Strengthen Enhancements, CMAQ and Other Existing Programs
How does this relate to reauthorization
of TEA-21?
We’ve been asked how the threat to
Transportation Enhancements in Appropriations
relates to reauthorization of TEA-21. Basically,
the "authorizers" (Senate EPW, House T&I) write
the bills that lay out programs and policy every
six years. The "appropriators" (House and Senate
Appropriations Committees) put money into the
programs every year through the annual budget
process. Because TEA-21 (work of the
authorizers) expires on September 30, 2003, and
they haven't completed work on a new bill, it
provides an opportunity for the appropriators to
mess with some of the formulas, and do things
like cut funding for Enhancements. [note that
this is a significant oversimplification of the
process].
Official version of the
authorization-appropriation process.
