Bush Administration Proposed $247-Billion Successor to TEA-21
The Bush administration has sent to Congress its long-awaited proposal to reauthorize federal highway, transit and safety programs, a bill that would provide $247 billion, a 19% increase over current levels. But Congress is likely to seek to push the funding even higher.
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta on May 14 released the 378-page bill, which officials have dubbed "SAFETEA"--for Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003. At a press conference at the department's headquarters, he described the legislation as "quite simply the largest surface and public transportation commitment in American history."