The document discusses upcoming changes to federal transportation legislation. It notes that current federal surface transportation programs are set to expire on September 30, 2011. The House of Representatives passed a bill to extend these programs until March 31, 2012 at reduced funding levels compared to the previous year, while work continues on a longer term reauthorization. The Senate still needs to approve the extension. Additionally, a continuing resolution will be needed to fund transportation for the new fiscal year starting October 1st since relevant appropriations bills may not be passed by then.
Building a Bett er Gas Tax:
How to Fix One of State Government’s Least Sustainable Revenue Sources
December 2011
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another.
The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.
If this sounds too mystical, refer again to the body. Every significant vital sign- body temperature, heart rate, oxygen consumption, hormone level, brain activity, and so on- alters the moment you decide to do anything… decisions are signals telling your body, mind, and environment to move in a certain direction.”
― Deepak Chopra
Transportation Directions: Where Are We Heading? (Jack Basso) - ULI Fall Meet...Virtual ULI
Authorization of the next surface transportation bill has
languished in Congress. Learn about prospects for a
breakthrough and how states are dealing with continued
uncertainty and planning for a future with diminished federal
resources.
Building a Bett er Gas Tax:
How to Fix One of State Government’s Least Sustainable Revenue Sources
December 2011
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another.
The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.
If this sounds too mystical, refer again to the body. Every significant vital sign- body temperature, heart rate, oxygen consumption, hormone level, brain activity, and so on- alters the moment you decide to do anything… decisions are signals telling your body, mind, and environment to move in a certain direction.”
― Deepak Chopra
Transportation Directions: Where Are We Heading? (Jack Basso) - ULI Fall Meet...Virtual ULI
Authorization of the next surface transportation bill has
languished in Congress. Learn about prospects for a
breakthrough and how states are dealing with continued
uncertainty and planning for a future with diminished federal
resources.
The 2010 Utah General Legislative Session will be remembered for the responsible actions of legislators to balance the budget without impairing Utah’s nascent economic recovery.
The Chamber worked to protect education funding and to advance man other business friendly policies. For a recap of the 2010 session, see the prioritized list of bills the Chamber either supported or opposed this session.
SWCLC Directors researched each ballot measure that will appear on the November 2016 California ballot. Based on that research, the Council determined positions to adopt on each proposition based on the measure's impact on our business community in keeping with our Strategic Initiatives.
We encourage you to do your own research with data available at
https://ballotpedia.org/California_2016_ballot_propositions and
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures/
1. What lies beneath: Mineral mining in India
2. Understanding the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021
3. Centre usurping powers of mineral-rich states by amending Mines and Minerals Act
4. Iron Ore Pricing - A Juggernaut - By Mantu Biswas
5. A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF STEEL GRADE LIMESTONE IN LOWER TERTIARY SEQUENCE, JAISALMER DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN Discovery, investigations, resources and mineability - By V.P. LAUL
6. MMDR, Amendment Act 2021, Mining Industries Perspective
7. India to explore if there can be co-development of mining and ecology
8. Government Likely To Frame Policy On Project Financing In
Coal Mining: Official
9. Odisha Mining industries seek public hearing through online mode
10. GOA: Mining corp before May 30
11. India’s Iron Man: The Unsung Pioneer Who Made JN Tata’s
Industrial Dream A Reality!
12. Amendment- 21 astructured approach to revamp mineral sector
13. IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON INDIAN MINING INDUSTRY: A
SPOTLIGHT - Abhay Kumar Soni
Edelman Canada shares highlights from British Columbia Finance Minister Mike de Jong’s 2017 Budget. To learn more about Edelman Canada, please visit www.edelman.ca.
Edelman Canada shares highlights from Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci’s 2017 Budget. To learn more about Edelman Canada, please visit www.edelman.ca.
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Northern Working Group Strategic Plan October 2012Ports-To-Plains Blog
Members of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance, organizations and individuals from North Dakota, Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan met in Regina on October 10 and 11, 2012 to develop a northern plan to enhance the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
The international trade data comes from Bureau of Transportation Statistics North American Transborder Freight Data (http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_QA.html). domestic data is from the Freight Analysis Framework by Center for Transportation Analysis in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under funding from the Federal Highway Administration (http://faf.ornl.gov/fafweb/Extraction2.aspx).
The 2010 Utah General Legislative Session will be remembered for the responsible actions of legislators to balance the budget without impairing Utah’s nascent economic recovery.
The Chamber worked to protect education funding and to advance man other business friendly policies. For a recap of the 2010 session, see the prioritized list of bills the Chamber either supported or opposed this session.
SWCLC Directors researched each ballot measure that will appear on the November 2016 California ballot. Based on that research, the Council determined positions to adopt on each proposition based on the measure's impact on our business community in keeping with our Strategic Initiatives.
We encourage you to do your own research with data available at
https://ballotpedia.org/California_2016_ballot_propositions and
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures/
1. What lies beneath: Mineral mining in India
2. Understanding the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021
3. Centre usurping powers of mineral-rich states by amending Mines and Minerals Act
4. Iron Ore Pricing - A Juggernaut - By Mantu Biswas
5. A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF STEEL GRADE LIMESTONE IN LOWER TERTIARY SEQUENCE, JAISALMER DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN Discovery, investigations, resources and mineability - By V.P. LAUL
6. MMDR, Amendment Act 2021, Mining Industries Perspective
7. India to explore if there can be co-development of mining and ecology
8. Government Likely To Frame Policy On Project Financing In
Coal Mining: Official
9. Odisha Mining industries seek public hearing through online mode
10. GOA: Mining corp before May 30
11. India’s Iron Man: The Unsung Pioneer Who Made JN Tata’s
Industrial Dream A Reality!
12. Amendment- 21 astructured approach to revamp mineral sector
13. IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON INDIAN MINING INDUSTRY: A
SPOTLIGHT - Abhay Kumar Soni
Edelman Canada shares highlights from British Columbia Finance Minister Mike de Jong’s 2017 Budget. To learn more about Edelman Canada, please visit www.edelman.ca.
Edelman Canada shares highlights from Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci’s 2017 Budget. To learn more about Edelman Canada, please visit www.edelman.ca.
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Northern Working Group Strategic Plan October 2012Ports-To-Plains Blog
Members of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance, organizations and individuals from North Dakota, Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan met in Regina on October 10 and 11, 2012 to develop a northern plan to enhance the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
The international trade data comes from Bureau of Transportation Statistics North American Transborder Freight Data (http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_QA.html). domestic data is from the Freight Analysis Framework by Center for Transportation Analysis in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under funding from the Federal Highway Administration (http://faf.ornl.gov/fafweb/Extraction2.aspx).
Letter supporting the Findings of nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for the Keystone XL Pipeline Evaluation by 125 elected officials and community leaders in the Ports-to-Plains region.
Earmarks—formally known as congressionally directed spending—have directed a significant
amount of federal transportation spending in recent years. Proposals to ban earmarks in
authorization and appropriations bills are under consideration in both houses of Congress. This
report discusses how federal highway, transit, and aviation funding might be distributed under an
earmark ban, and how members of Congress might influence the distribution.
Data-Driven Decision MakingSalomey F. Calixte OllieShoresna
Data-Driven
Decision
Making
Salomey F.
Calixte
MAT210
Prof Evan
Schwartz
9/3/2021
1
Rate of Poverty
United State Poverty Rate
2
Poverty Rate in
States
3
Rate of Poverty
0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00%
State w ith th e H ig h e st
rate o f P o ve rty
Georgia: District of Columbia:
South Carolina: Alabama:
Kentucky: West Virginia:
New Mexico:
Louisiana: 18.4% Mississippi
4
5
1
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
F ac tors be hind Pove rty
Adverse Weather illiteracy Pandemics Unemployment
Poverty Rate
Description
The graph shows the states with the
highest and lowest poverty rates in
percentage terms. Some of the states
with the highest poverty rates are
Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, and
Georgia (Jelavish, 2021).
6
Important
of the Data
The presentation aims to inform the audience about
the main factors that cause poverty. The data shows
that education is very important in reducing poverty.
The state with the lowest rate of poverty will have the
easiest to implement and manage.
7
Recommendation
Creation of job opportunity
Educating youths to increase the level of
education
Having special attention to the state with
high poverty level
8
Audience
Targeted
The target audience is adults and teenagers
because they have a better understanding of
the issues related to poverty and inequality.
Having teenagers as a part of the group will
help in curbing poverty.
9
Language,
Purpose &
Visual
presentation
The language used in this project is
simple and brief to enable the audience
to understand the presentation. I used a
bar chart to help the adults understand
the basic concepts of presentation.
10
CONCLUSION
Poverty is a social issue that affects every
society. It should be the government's priority.
11
References
References
https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-estimates-
trends-analysis
(USA, n.d.)
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-270.html
12
https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-estimates-trends-analysis
https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-estimates-trends-analysisSlide 1Slide 2Poverty Rate in StatesSlide 4Slide 5Poverty Rate DescriptionImportant of the DataRecommendationAudience TargetedLanguage, Purpose & Visual presentationCONCLUSIONReferences
Policy Basics is a series of brief background reports on issues related to budgets, taxes, and government assistance programs.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | cbpp.org
Note: The COVID-19 recession and subsequent relief packages have dramatically changed
spending and revenue levels for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. We use pre-pandemic figures
below ...
Presentation by Joe Kiely, Vice President of Operations at Ports-to-Plains Alliance at Northern Ports-to-Plains Work Group Meeting in Wainwright, AB on June 21, 2013
Energy Development Impact on Transportation Infrastructure presented by TxDOT at Ports-to-Plains Alliance Annual Meeting in Washington DC on April 26, 2013.
Wind Energy's Future and the Impact on U.S. Manufacturing presentation at Ports-to-Plains Alliance Energy Conference in Washington DC on April 26, 2013.
Fuels Policy, Ethanol and RFS Reform Political and Policy Implications on Gas...Ports-To-Plains Blog
Fuels Policy, Ethanol and RFS Reform
Political and Policy Implications on Gasoline Prices.
Presented at Ports-to-Plains Alliance Energy Conference, Washington Dc on April 26, 2013
Dear Governor Heineman:
Thank you for approving the new route for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The project will allow America to gain independence from Middle East and Venezuelan oil by increasing supplies from our loyal, stable and secure ally in Canada. It will also be a major economic development booster for our country and region, not only in the construction of the pipeline, but in further development of Alberta’s oil resources. For every two Canadian jobs created by the oil sands, a third is created in the US. Alberta oil sands development is projected to generate more than $500 billion in US economic impact over the next 25 years.
Jack Schenendorf, Ports-to-Plains Alliance Transportation Consultant, in Washington will address the following topics:
The 2012 elections, the politics of 113th Congress, and the new leaders handling transportation.
Fiscal cliff: how bad is it and what is likely to happen?
Transportation's fiscal cliff: what are we going to do about it?
MAP-21 implementation and reauthorization in 113th Congress.
Jack Schenendorf’s practice concentrates on transportation and legislation with a particular focus on legislative strategy, legislative procedure, and the federal budget process. For nearly 25 years, Mr. Schenendorf served on the staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was Chief of Staff from 1995 to 2001.
Jack represents the Ports-to-Plains Alliance in Washington, DC. In addition he has represented Associated General Contractors, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Association of Equipment Manufactures, United Airlines and others
The international trade data comes from Bureau of Transportation Statistics North American Transborder Freight Data (http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/TBDR_QA.html). domestic data is from the Freight Analysis Framework by Center for Transportation Analysis in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under funding from the Federal Highway Administration (http://faf.ornl.gov/fafweb/Extraction2.aspx).
Comments on Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Advisory Commit...Ports-To-Plains Blog
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requested comments related to the interim guidance on state freight plans and state advisory committees. In response to the Notice, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance respectfully submitted these comments.
Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory CommitteesPorts-To-Plains Blog
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Interim Guidance on State Freight Plans and State Freight Advisory Committees
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Notices
Statement on TBD Colorado Recommendations on Transportation
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Open Road. Big Opportunity. Rural to Rural Project
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Imaginative Enterprise-Business-from Ports-to-Plains
What are the innovative companies who are making a positive impact on our region and the world? Hear from some of the cutting edge entrepreneurs who are creating jobs in innovative ways.
15th Annual Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference
Medicine Hat, AB
October 2-4, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Imaginative Enterprise-Business-from Ports-to-Plains
What are the innovative companies who are making a positive impact on our region and the world? Hear from some of the cutting edge entrepreneurs who are creating jobs in innovative ways.
Implicitly or explicitly all competing businesses employ a strategy to select a mix
of marketing resources. Formulating such competitive strategies fundamentally
involves recognizing relationships between elements of the marketing mix (e.g.,
price and product quality), as well as assessing competitive and market conditions
(i.e., industry structure in the language of economics).
Business Valuation Principles for EntrepreneursBen Wann
This insightful presentation is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge and tools needed to accurately value their businesses. Understanding business valuation is crucial for making informed decisions, whether you're seeking investment, planning to sell, or simply want to gauge your company's worth.
Discover the innovative and creative projects that highlight my journey throu...dylandmeas
Discover the innovative and creative projects that highlight my journey through Full Sail University. Below, you’ll find a collection of my work showcasing my skills and expertise in digital marketing, event planning, and media production.
RMD24 | Debunking the non-endemic revenue myth Marvin Vacquier Droop | First ...BBPMedia1
Marvin neemt je in deze presentatie mee in de voordelen van non-endemic advertising op retail media netwerken. Hij brengt ook de uitdagingen in beeld die de markt op dit moment heeft op het gebied van retail media voor niet-leveranciers.
Retail media wordt gezien als het nieuwe advertising-medium en ook mediabureaus richten massaal retail media-afdelingen op. Merken die niet in de betreffende winkel liggen staan ook nog niet in de rij om op de retail media netwerken te adverteren. Marvin belicht de uitdagingen die er zijn om echt aansluiting te vinden op die markt van non-endemic advertising.
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Premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions for Modern BusinessesSynapseIndia
Stay ahead of the curve with our premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions. Our expert developers utilize MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js to create modern and responsive web applications. Trust us for cutting-edge solutions that drive your business growth and success.
Know more: https://www.synapseindia.com/technology/mean-stack-development-company.html
"𝑩𝑬𝑮𝑼𝑵 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝑻𝑱 𝑰𝑺 𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑭 𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑬"
𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐬 (𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬) is a professional event agency that includes experts in the event-organizing market in Vietnam, Korea, and ASEAN countries. We provide unlimited types of events from Music concerts, Fan meetings, and Culture festivals to Corporate events, Internal company events, Golf tournaments, MICE events, and Exhibitions.
𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐬 provides unlimited package services including such as Event organizing, Event planning, Event production, Manpower, PR marketing, Design 2D/3D, VIP protocols, Interpreter agency, etc.
Sports events - Golf competitions/billiards competitions/company sports events: dynamic and challenging
⭐ 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬:
➢ 2024 BAEKHYUN [Lonsdaleite] IN HO CHI MINH
➢ SUPER JUNIOR-L.S.S. THE SHOW : Th3ee Guys in HO CHI MINH
➢FreenBecky 1st Fan Meeting in Vietnam
➢CHILDREN ART EXHIBITION 2024: BEYOND BARRIERS
➢ WOW K-Music Festival 2023
➢ Winner [CROSS] Tour in HCM
➢ Super Show 9 in HCM with Super Junior
➢ HCMC - Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Festival
➢ Korean Vietnam Partnership - Fair with LG
➢ Korean President visits Samsung Electronics R&D Center
➢ Vietnam Food Expo with Lotte Wellfood
"𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬."
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
What are the main advantages of using HR recruiter services.pdfHumanResourceDimensi1
HR recruiter services offer top talents to companies according to their specific needs. They handle all recruitment tasks from job posting to onboarding and help companies concentrate on their business growth. With their expertise and years of experience, they streamline the hiring process and save time and resources for the company.
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. You’ll also learn
• Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
• The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
• Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
Enterprise Excellence is Inclusive Excellence.pdfKaiNexus
Enterprise excellence and inclusive excellence are closely linked, and real-world challenges have shown that both are essential to the success of any organization. To achieve enterprise excellence, organizations must focus on improving their operations and processes while creating an inclusive environment that engages everyone. In this interactive session, the facilitator will highlight commonly established business practices and how they limit our ability to engage everyone every day. More importantly, though, participants will likely gain increased awareness of what we can do differently to maximize enterprise excellence through deliberate inclusion.
What is Enterprise Excellence?
Enterprise Excellence is a holistic approach that's aimed at achieving world-class performance across all aspects of the organization.
What might I learn?
A way to engage all in creating Inclusive Excellence. Lessons from the US military and their parallels to the story of Harry Potter. How belt systems and CI teams can destroy inclusive practices. How leadership language invites people to the party. There are three things leaders can do to engage everyone every day: maximizing psychological safety to create environments where folks learn, contribute, and challenge the status quo.
Who might benefit? Anyone and everyone leading folks from the shop floor to top floor.
Dr. William Harvey is a seasoned Operations Leader with extensive experience in chemical processing, manufacturing, and operations management. At Michelman, he currently oversees multiple sites, leading teams in strategic planning and coaching/practicing continuous improvement. William is set to start his eighth year of teaching at the University of Cincinnati where he teaches marketing, finance, and management. William holds various certifications in change management, quality, leadership, operational excellence, team building, and DiSC, among others.
1. Update on Federal Transportation
Legislation in the 112th Congress
The Federal surface transportation programs (highway, highway safety, and transit) are scheduled to
expire on September 30, 2011. Both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are
working on multi-year reauthorization bills. These bills will not, however, be finished by the time the
programs expire. Therefore, it is necessary for Congress to extend the current programs for a period of
time so that work can continue on the major reauthorization legislation.
On September 13th, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2887 to extend the surface
transportation programs until March 31, 2012. The bill also extends Federal aviation programs until
January 31, 2012. The bill has been sent to the Senate for its approval. This process is expected to go
relatively smoothly, although it is always hard to predict what will happen in the Senate. It is hoped that
the President will be able to sign the bill before the aviation programs expire on September 16th.
In addition to H.R. 2887, Congress must also take up a continuing resolution for FY 2012 since only a
few appropriations bills will have been passed by October 1st when the new fiscal year starts. The
Transportation Appropriations Bill is one of the bills that will most likely not be finished by October 1st,
so transportation will be covered by the FY 2012 continuing resolution.
There are significant financing and funding issues facing the Federal highway program. To fully
understand the current situation, it might prove useful to first review the way the highway program is
financed, including recent changes made by Congress. This is followed by a discussion of H.R. 2887
and the Continuing Resolution for FY 2012.
Highway Financing
Background
Most Federal programs operate using appropriated budget authority, which requires a two-step process
to implement. The first step is the congressional passage of authorizations for the program. This step,
in itself, does not permit the program to begin, but only sets an upper limit on program funding. The
second step in the process is the congressional passage of appropriations for the program. In an
appropriations act, the Congress makes available the amount that can actually be used for the
program. It is at this point that the program can proceed. In other words, "budget authority"–the
approval to distribute, spend, loan, or obligate funds–has been granted through the appropriations act
at the level of the appropriations, which may be equal to or lower than the originally authorized level of
funding.
Limon Office Lubbock Office
P.O. Box 9 5401 N MLK Blvd., Unit 395
Limon, CO 80828 Lubbock, TX 79403
P: 303.586.1787 P: 806.775.2338
F: 719.775.9073 Fax: 806.775.3981
www.portstoplains.com
2. Update On Federal Highway Legislation In The 112th Congress
September 14, 2011
Page 2
Contract Authority and the Federal-Aid Highway Programs
The Federal highway programs, however, do not require this two-step process. Through what is termed
"contract authority" (a special type of budget authority), authorized amounts become available for
obligation according to the provisions of the authorization act without further legislative action. The use
of contract authority, first legislated for the highway program in the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1921,
gives the States advance notice of the size of the Federal-aid program at the time an authorization act
is enacted and eliminates much of the uncertainty contained in the authorization-appropriation
sequence.
Obligation Limitations
Again, because of contract authority, there is a smooth and stable flow of Federal-aid to the States. But
some in Congress in the mid-1970s felt that this very benefit was a disadvantage to overall Federal
budgeting. A major function of the appropriations and budget processes is to assess the current need
for, and effect of, Federal dollars on the economy. The appropriations process has been the traditional
way to control Federal expenditures annually. But the highway program, with multiple-year
authorizations and multiple-year availability of funds, appeared to be exempt from this annual review.
This led Congress to place a limit, or ceiling, on the total obligations that could be incurred for the
Federal highway programs during a year. By controlling obligations annually, the program could be
made more responsive to budget policy. As a result, obligation limitations have been included in the
annual transportation appropriations bills in recent decades.
Before moving on, it is important to note that the obligation limitation represents the operative program
level in any given year. Let’s look at an example to see why. Let’s say that a state has $300 million in
unobligated contract authority at the start of a fiscal year. Let’s also say that it receives an additional
$950 billion in new contract authority on the first day of the new fiscal year. That means that the state
has $300 million plus $950 million, or a total of $1,250 million, to spend in that year—at least in theory.
The actual amount it can spend, i.e., obligate, is dependent on the obligation limitation Congress enacts
through the appropriations process. If the state receives a limitation of $925 million, for example, then it
can only obligate $925 million in that year even though it has $1,250 million available to obligate.
Obligation limitations are important!
Budget Firewalls and Guaranteed Funding
During the 1980s and 1990s, balances in the Highway Trust Fund ballooned to unacceptably high
levels as a result of obligation limitations that were set at artificially low levels just to mask the size of
the Federal deficit. Recognizing the special status of programs funded from self-financed trust funds,
Congress rectified this abuse in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). TEA-21
created firewalls between highway spending, transit spending, and other domestic discretionary
spending. These firewalls take the form of separate spending caps for the protected programs that
prevent the programs from being reduced in order to increase spending for other discretionary
programs.
Limon Office Lubbock Office
P.O. Box 9 5401 N MLK Blvd., Unit 395
Limon, CO 80828 Lubbock, TX 79403
P: 303.586.1787 P: 806.775.2338
F: 719.775.9073 Fax: 806.775.3981
www.portstoplains.com
3. Update On Federal Highway Legislation In The 112th Congress
September 14, 2011
Page 3
In addition to the firewalls, TEA-21 provided a second level of protection. It guaranteed a certain level
of highway funding by establishing a point of order in the Rules of the House of Representatives. The
House Rules were amended to specify that it is out of order to consider a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, or conference report that contained an obligation limitation that would result in funding at a
lower level than the guaranteed amount.
The 112th Congress
The 112th Congress, in particular the House of Representatives, has made drastic changes in the way
the Federal highway programs are funded. First, it repealed the funding guarantees in the House Rules.
Second, in the recent Budget Control Act of 2011, it repealed the transportation firewalls. These two
actions eliminated all of the budgetary protections contained in TEA-21.
FY 2012 Funding
In analyzing highway funding for FY 2012, it is important to remember that there are no more firewalls
or guarantees. Congress can set the FY 2012 funding levels--both contract authority and the obligation
limitation--at whatever levels it chooses.
H.R. 2887, The Extension Bill
H.R. 2887 extends the highway, highway safety, and transit programs for 6 months, until March 31st. It
has been described as extending the existing programs at “current levels.” As we shall see, this is not
entirely accurate, at least in the usual meaning of that term.
Highways
The highway program was funded at about $43.0 billion in FY 2011. When the Congressional Budget
Office (CBO) prepared its “current level” baseline in March for the FY 2012 budget, it included $43.0
billion in contract authority for highways.
H.R. 2887, however, extends the highway program at a level of $39.9 billion in contract authority, about
7 percent below the FY 2011 level of $43.0 billion. Therefore, states will receive about seven percent
less in contract authority than they received in FY 2011. Of course, since this extension is for only 6
months, they will receive 1/2 of that reduced annual amount on October 1st, or soon thereafter,
assuming the bill is enacted in a timely manner. The amount of contract they receive for the second
half of the fiscal year will depend on future legislation--either the multi-year reauthorization bill or
additional extensions.
Just to be clear, here is how a state should calculate what they will receive in contract authority under
the highway program at the start of FY 2012. First, they should determine what they received in FY
2011. Second, they should reduce that number by 7 percent to reflect the overall cut in the program.
And third, they should take that reduced amount and divide it by 2 to reflect that the fact that the
program is being extend for only 6 months. That is the approximate amount they will receive in contract
authority for the various highway programs.
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4. Update On Federal Highway Legislation In The 112th Congress
September 14, 2011
Page 4
One might ask why $39.9 billion is being described as the “current level” for FY 2012 when the real
funding level in FY 2011 was $43.0 billion. This is a good question. Unfortunately, the answer is
complicated and requires exploring some of the more arcane aspects of Federal budgeting.
In drafting H.R. 2887, Congress would normally have used the CBO’s March baseline level of $43.0
billion as the “current level” for highways. But the recently enacted Budget Control Act of 2011 directed
CBO to prepare a new August baseline that took into account, among other things, the final FY 2011
Continuing Resolution (CR). The final FY 2011 CR contained a one-time $3.1 billion rescission of old,
unobligated highway contract authority. In developing its revised August baseline, CBO assumed--
incorrectly, in my view--that this one-time rescission would continue in perpetuity. Consequently, it
reduced the baseline for highways by $3.1 billion for FY 2012 and the years beyond. In budgeting
parlance, this new reduced level would now become the “current level,” notwithstanding the fact that
the real level of new contract authority in FY 2011 was $3.1 billion higher.
Two other points are worth noting regarding highway funding in the extension.
First, it is worth looking how the $39.9 billion level compares to the highway funding levels being
considered by the House and Senate in their reauthorization proposals. In their two-year
reauthorization proposal, Senators Boxer and Inhofe have proposed annual funding of about $43.0
billion, the FY 2011 level, adjusted for inflation. In his six-year reauthorization proposal, Chairman Mica
has proposed significant reductions--on the order of 30 percent or more below the FY 2011 level of
$43.0 billion--in annual highway funding. The $39.9 billion level in the extension is slightly below the
Senate multi-year proposal and significantly higher than the House proposal.
Second, it should be noted that, unlike previous extension bills, this extension bill does not contain a
guaranteed obligation limitation for the highway program. Instead, the bill defers to the appropriations
committee to set the obligation limitation for FY 2012 in the FY 2012 appropriations bill. This is quite a
departure from past practice and is discussed in more detail below.
Highway Safety and Public Transportation Programs
With respect to highway safety and public transportation, there is no reduction in the extension bill from
FY 2011 contract authority levels. Therefore, in those programs, states and localities should receive
about what it received in contract authority in FY 2011. Again, since this extension is for only 6 months,
they will receive about 1/2 of the FY 2011 amounts on October 1st, or shortly thereafter.
Other Policy Changes
H.R. 2887 is a “clean” extension in that it does not contain other policy changes to the surface
transportation programs.
FY 2012 Continuing Resolution
The obligation limitation, i.e., the amount of contract authority that the states can obligate in FY 2012,
will be set in this year's appropriations legislation. This represents the "operational level of spending"
for FY 2012.
Limon Office Lubbock Office
P.O. Box 9 5401 N MLK Blvd., Unit 395
Limon, CO 80828 Lubbock, TX 79403
P: 303.586.1787 P: 806.775.2338
F: 719.775.9073 Fax: 806.775.3981
www.portstoplains.com
5. Update On Federal Highway Legislation In The 112th Congress
September 14, 2011
Page 5
The obligation limitation for highways was $41.1 billion in FY 2011. CBO’s March and August baselines
both assume an obligation limitation of $41.6 billion ($41.1 billion adjusted for inflation).
The Senate is most likely to take an approach similar to what Senators Boxer and Inhofe are
advocating for their two-year reauthorization bill--a continuation of current levels, which means about
$41.6 billion. However, it should be noted that the Senate might reduce the obligation limitation by 7
percent to reflect the 7 percent cut in contract authority in the extension bill.
The House, on the other hand, appeared to be ready to take an approach similar to what Chairman
Mica is advocating for his six-year reauthorization bill--a significant reduction in funding (about 30
percent). If the House takes this position, then the obligation limitation would be significantly reduced to
about $27 billion in FY 2012. In fact, the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee approved
a bill a week or so ago setting the FY 2012 obligation limitation at $27 billion. If this approach prevails,
then states would receive about 30 percent less than they received in FY 2011. This would result in a
more than 30 percent reduction in real highway spending.
It should be noted, however, that given the recent action on the extension bill in the House, there may
be some hope that the House will not make major cuts in the obligation limitation in FY 2012. The
House extended the contract authority for the program at roughly current levels and did not impose the
significant reductions from Chairman Mica's reauthorization proposal for FY 2012. It may be a sign that
the House Leadership is leery of cutting jobs-creating programs at a time of high unemployment. If this
assessment is correct, then one would expect to see the obligation limitation of $27 billion in the
subcommittee's bill increased to a level much closer to the current FY 2011 level.
Since the FY 2012 continuing resolution needs to be in place by the end of September, this issue will
be resolved, one way or the other, in the next couple of weeks. A lot is at stake. There is a big
difference between $41 billion and $27 billion.
Limon Office Lubbock Office
P.O. Box 9 5401 N MLK Blvd., Unit 395
Limon, CO 80828 Lubbock, TX 79403
P: 303.586.1787 P: 806.775.2338
F: 719.775.9073 Fax: 806.775.3981
www.portstoplains.com