Dear Mayor:

Here is an update on three important Federal issues.

I. Amtrak reauthorization

Last week, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to fund Amtrak programs for the next six years. S 294, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007, would provide $3.3 billion in operating subsidies and $4.9 billion for capital grants, including $1.4 billion to states for intercity passenger rail upgrades. States would be required to provide a 20 percent match.

The bill also includes programs to improve rail security and allows certain development projects near train station to be eligible for the capital grants. A similar Amtrak reauthorization bill was adopted easily by the Senate last year but was blocked in the House. 

Senate leaders hope to debate the bill on the Senate floor before the May recess.  The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads has scheduled a series of hearings on rail passenger service and Amtrak in June.

II. House Panel Adopts COPS Reauthorization

Legislation to reauthorize funding for local law enforcement programs was adopted by a House panel this week.   The Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee approve HR 1700 to authorize spending for the Community Oriented Policing Services program at $1.15 billion annually for five years, beginning in fiscal 2008.  The program was instituted in 1994 to provide local funding for community oriented law enforcement but has faced massive funding cuts in recent years.  Since 1994, more than $11.4 billion in grants have been made to more than 13,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies.

As approved by the subcommittee, HR 1700 would authorize:

• Not less than $600 million annually to hire police officers for community-oriented law enforcement, such as counterterrorism duties and to serve as school resource officers.
• No more than $350 million per year for technology grants allowing police agencies to purchase new technologies like laptop computers for patrol cars and crime-mapping software.
• No more than $200 million per year to help local district attorneys hire community prosecutors.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a companion bill, S 368, the COPS Improvements Act of 2007, on March 15.  

III. House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Aviation Programs for Small Communities

Two key federal programs that benefit smaller communities across the nation were the subject of a hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation. 

The Essential Air Service (EAS) provides about $100 million in subsides each year to communities that would not have service without the program; and the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) provides about $20 million per year in grants have benefited smaller communities across the nation. The proposed FAA reauthorization bill proposed by the Administration would end funding for the SCASDP and restrict future growth of the EAS program.

Since the EAS program was started in 1997 to help communities that would lose service due to airline deregulation, the federal government has provided subsidies ranging from about $13 to $677 per passenger. 

Air carriers apply directly to the US Department of Transportation for subsidies under the EAS program.  Financial conditions in the aviation industry and the terrorist attacks of September 11 contributed to further reduction in airport service to medium and small communities. 

Congress will consider possible changes to the EAS and SCASD programs as part of a larger discussion on reauthorization of federal airport programs and the taxes that support these programs this spring and summer.  The House Aviation Subcommittee has held a series of hearings on the programs, which both expire on September 30, 2007.   The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security has scheduled a hearing on the program for May 1. 

We will keep you posted on future developments on these and other important Federal issues. For more information, contact Jon Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 121.

Very truly yours,

                                                                        William G. Dressel, Jr.
                                                                        Executive Director