House Passes Highway Bill

The House of Representatives last week passed the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU). Approved by a vote of 417 to 9, the bill authorizes $283.9 billion for federal surface transportation programs for fiscal years 2004 to 2009. The majority of the funds — $225.5 billion — would be earmarked for Federal Highway Administration programs, with $52.3 billion for Federal Transit Administration programs. The 1998 TEA-21 act authorized $218 billion for highway and transit programs.

The House bill does not include rental equipment preference language proposed in the Senate.