WASHINGTON -- The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation yesterday that would provide $13.7 billion to fund transportation programs in fiscal 1995.
The measure, which now goes to the full Senate, would also release about $24 billion from the federal highway and airport trust funds for projects in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
The Senate panel's bill would provide about $500 million less for transportation programs than the $14.2 billion approved by the full House in June, but the amount to be released from the trust funds for projects next year would be about the same as in the House bill.
State highways would receive $17.6 billion from the trust funds under the Senate panel's measure, or about $440 million more than amount approved by the the House.
But airports would receive only $1.45 billion from the trust funds under the Senate panel's measure, compared with about $2 billion that is contained in the House spending bill.
The Federal Highway Administration would have a total budget of $17.6 billion in fiscal 1995 under the Senate panel's bill, compared with $19.8 billion under the House bill. Both amounts are significantly lower than the Clinton Administration's budget request of $20.2 billion.
The Senate panel's bill would provide $2.5 billion for mass transit -- only about half of the $4.7 billion called for in the House measure. The administration requested $4.8 billion for fiscal 1995.
Once the Senate acts on the measure, House and Senate negotiators will try to hammer out a compromise to send to both chambers for a final vote before the current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
