John Sarbanes: “I want to take a moment while the transportation appropriations conference report is pending before us to express my…”

“I want to take a moment while the transportation appropriations conference report is pending before us to express my concern, as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Federal transit laws, about a provision in that report that attempts by report language to rewrite established law by reducing the Federal match for New Start transit projects from 80 percent to 60 percent. I am referring to language in the conference report that would "direct [the Federal Transit Administration] not to sign any new full funding grant agreements after September 30, 2002 that have a maximum federal share of higher than 60 percent." The Senate Banking Committee will begin to consider transit reauthorization issues next year. In the meantime, we have not had the benefit of any hearings or other public debate on this issue that would justify such report language. Over 200 communities around the country, in urban, suburban, and rural areas, are considering light rail or other fixed guideway transit investments to meet their growing transportation needs.”