Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The tentative agreement establishes federal highway, transit and highway safety policy and keeps programs at current funding levels through the end of fiscal year 2014. If a majority of House and Senate conferees approve the conference report, both bodies are then expected to take up the measure before the end of the week, prior to the expiration of the current extension of transportation funding on June 30th.

Authorizes $248.6M for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 for the combined Section 5310 services, representing a $23M increase overall, with potentially more benefits for programs supporting seniors and persons with disabilities.

The vote steps up pressure on the House to drop its troubled five-year bill and instead adapt the Senate version before the current extension expires March 31.

Issued a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) stressing the importance of the benefit.

The Conference Committee approved the bill by a vote of 38-1. The House passed the bill 298-121, while the Senate approved it with a vote of 70-30. The bill now heads to the President, who is expected to sign it, thereby completing work on the FY 2012 budget for the Department of Transportation.

The legislation freezes funding at fiscal year 2010 levels for highway, transit and highways safety programs.

The House still has to approve a companion bill before President Obama can sign the $848 billion tax cut package, along with the commuter tax break, into law.