While the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2004, which funds 11 of the 15 Cabinet departments, including transportation, passed the House Dec. 8, it will not come up for a Senate vote until Jan. 20 at the earliest, according to press reports.

The continuing resolution that funds these departments at 2003 levels remains in effect until Jan. 31, 2004. If the DOT part of the bill were to be considered separately, it would have already passed. The decision to make it part of the larger Omnibus bill is one made by the leadership in both the House and Senate.

The immediate impact on states and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is that grant funding continues to be available on a pro-rated monthly basis (1/12 of the annual amount) at fiscal year 2003 levels.

But there was some good news for the safety agency.

The Appropriations Committee did not wait for reauthorization on several issues. It re-directed funds for the federal-aid highway program to FMCSA for the following purposes: $21 million for a new state CDL grant program; $23 million for southern border states; $9 million for northern border states for increased inspections; and $25 million for states to implement the new entrant program.