June 22, 2009
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Congress Approves Proposal to Provide Transit Operating Assistance
On June 18, House-Senate conferees filed the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, which includes a provision that would allow transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of their American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to cover operating costs of “equipment and facilities for use in public transportation.”
This provision would also allow agencies to amend previously submitted applications in order to redirect ARRA funds toward operating purposes.
It was added in the Senate-passed version of the legislation by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT), with strong support from Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), chairman of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. It ultimately was retained in the conference agreement.
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