John Boozman: “this amendment violates clause 3 of rule XXI. It reduces obligation authority and associated outlays below the levels…”

“this amendment violates clause 3 of rule XXI. It reduces obligation authority and associated outlays below the levels provided in Public Law 109-59 in violation of rule XXI, clause 3. The CHAIRMAN. Is there any Member wishing to be heard on the point of order? If not, the Chair is prepared to rule. The Chair has examined clause 3 of rule XXI, which originally was adopted by the enactment of section 8101(e) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century as an exercise of rulemaking power, which was amended by section 8004 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) in order to conform the rule to the current law authorizing funds for highway and transit programs. Clause 3, in part, reads as follows: ``It shall not be in order to consider a bill, joint resolution, amendment or conference report, that would cause obligation limitations to be below the level for any fiscal year set forth in section 8003 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, as adjusted, for the highway category or the mass transit category, as applicable.'' Clause 3 also states: ``For purposes of this clause, any obligation limitation relating to surface transportation projects under section 1602 of the Transportation Equity Act and section 1702 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users shall be assumed to be administered on the basis of so…”