What’s the fate of HR 1, eliminating High Speed Rail funding?

House GOP

House GOP

On February 19th the 112th Congress of the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 235-189, passed HR 1.

HR 1 is the $1.2 trillion dollar appropriations package required for funding the federal government from March 4 until Sept. 30, 2011. While I have commented on my dream sheet of defunding HSR stimulus money, HR 1 spells it out rather clearly.  The test will be the pending vote in the Senate and reaction by president Obama.
Will the $4.5 billion of unobligated HSR funding be reinstated?
Will the president Veto the appropriations proposal and shut down the federal government?
Only time will tell.
As I fast forward through the 384 page bill today I stopped at page 346 where TITLE XII–addresses “TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES.
SEC. 2203, found on pages 347 and 348, reads as follows:
Notwithstanding section 1101, the level for each of the following accounts shall be $0: “Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, National Infrastructure Investments”; “Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Surface Transportation Priorities”; Department of Transportation, Federal Transit administration, Grants for Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Reduction”; “Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Safety Technology Program”; Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity  Passenger Rail Service”; “Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Assistance to Small Shipyards”; and “Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority”.
Following is the text for DIVISION B–FULL YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 TITLE I–GENERAL PROVISIONS followed by SEC. 1101 as referenced above.
SEC. 1101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at the level specified in subsection (c) and under the authority and conditions provided in applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2010, for projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the following appropriations Acts:
(1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–80).
(2) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–85).
(3) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–83).
(4) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (division A of Public Law 111–88).
(5) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2010 (division A of Public Law 111–68).
(6) The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–117).
(7) Section 102(c) (except the last proviso relating to waiver of fees) of chapter 1 of title I of the
10 Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–212) that addresses guaranteed loans in the
rural housing insurance fund.
(8) The appropriation under the heading ‘‘Department of Commerce—United States Patent and Trademark Office’’ in the United States Patent and Trademark Office Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–224).
(b) For purposes of this division, the term ‘‘level’’ means an amount.
(c) The level referred to in subsection (a) shall be the amounts appropriated in the appropriations Acts
referred to in such subsection, including transfers and obligation limitations, except that—
(1) such level shall not include any amount previously designated as an emergency requirement and
necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to sections 403(a) and 423(b) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th
3 Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010; and
(2) such level shall be calculated without regard to any rescission or cancellation of funds or contract authority.

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