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Senate finalizes $295B transportation measure
Wednesday, May 18, 2005

The Senate voted 89-11 on Tuesday to pass a $295 billion transportation bill that faces a veto from President Bush.

The White House says it will not accept a bill larger than $284 billion. But the Senate voted last week to add $11 billion to the package. The House version remains at $284 billion and also contains separate funds for special projects, including some on reservations. The bill will now go to a joint House-Senate conference committee to iron out the differences.

The Senate and House version of the bill contain identical language to reauthorize and fund the Indian Reservation Roads program for five fiscal years. TEA-LU Act allocates $325 million for 2004, $365 million for 2005, $390 million for 2006, $395 million for 2007, $420 million for 2008 and $420 million for 2009.

Both versions further direct the Bureau of Indian Affairs to limit administrative expenses to a certain amount. For 2006: $27 million, for 2007: $28 million, for 2008: $29 million and for 2009: $30 million.

The bill creates a new position at the Department of Transportation. The deputy assistant secretary for tribal government affairs will be appointed by the president to "plan, coordinate, and implement the Department of Transportation policy and programs serving Indian tribes and tribal organizations and to coordinate tribal transportation programs and activities in all offices and administrations of the Department and to be a participant in any negotiated rulemaking related to, or has impact on, projects, programs, or funding associated with the tribal transportation program."

Regarding Alaska Natives, the bill allows the Transportation and Interior departments to add, at their discretion, additional village roads to the IRR inventory. The bill also creates an Alaska Native Village transportation program in coordination with the Alaska Federation of Natives.

Get the Story:
Senate Passes $295 Billion Transportation Measure (The Washington Post 5/18)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz
Daring Veto, Senate Passes Roads and Transit Measure (The New York Times 5/18)
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Herseth fights for transportation funds (The Rapid City Journal 5/18)
Baucus, Burns praise Senate's highway bill (The Billings Gazette 5/18)
Bill gives Montana $2.1 billion for roads (Gannett News Service 5/18)

Get the Bill:
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R.3)

Senate Roll Call:
On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3 As Amended) (May 17, 2005)

Related Stories:
Senate approves $295B transportation measure (5/12)
House approves $284 billion transportation bill (03/11)
Massive transportation bill remains in limbo (10/12)
Tribes seek improvements for reservation roads (07/22)
BIA publishes final rule for reservation roads (7/19)
Senate to move forward with transportation bill (05/20)
House defies Bush with $275B transportation bill (04/02)
Tribes lobby for more funds in transportation bill (2/19)
Senate approves $318B highway transportation bill (02/13)
Domenici cites spending hike for reservation roads (2/12)
Senate committee approves reservation roads bill (06/27)
Editorial: Congress needs to fund reservation roads (06/05)
Senate committee to take up reservation roads (6/3)
BIA delaying distribution of federal road money (05/30)
Alaska's Young wants $375B for transportation (05/16)
New federal highway funds bill introduced (05/15)
Advocates seek boost for Indian Country roads (03/28)
Rahall: The Indian agenda in the 108th Congress (01/08)
State disputes 'illegal jurisdiction' of tribe (10/10)
Bill to double reservation road funds (09/24)
Federal appeals court affirms tribal authority (8/15)
McCaleb tussles with tribal leaders over roads (11/8)

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