Don Young: “first let me thank Mr. Nussle and Mr. Spratt, especially in the realm of transportation. Mr. Chairman, I want to take…”

“first let me thank Mr. Nussle and Mr. Spratt, especially in the realm of transportation. Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to thank Budget Committee Chairman Nussle and ranking member Spratt for their assistance during last year's Surface Transportation Reauthorization. The budget title of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Effective Transportation Equity Act, a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA LU) contains the vitally important funding Firewalls for the Federal Highway, Transit, and Highway Safety Programs for fiscal years 2005 through 2009. My committee is grateful for the Budget Committee's recognition of these important guarantees and their codification in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. I understand that the budget resolution incorporates certain assumptions for Function 400 Transportation Activities. First, all mandatory funding is assumed to meet the Congressional Budget Office's baseline. This is good news for the portions of our Highway, Highway Safety, Transit, and Aviation programs that are funded out of the Highway Trust Fund or the Aviation Trust Fund--it means that the authorized levels are assumed under the budget resolution. However, discretionary budget authority is assumed for these programs at the administration's fiscal year 2007 budget request levels. This is not very good news for transportation programs.…”