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On Tuesday, the Senate passed the 2012 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2112). As amended, the bill includes the FY2012 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bills.

H.R. 2112 includes $8.4 billion for formula-funded transit investments; $550 million for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program grants; $100 million for high-speed and intercity passenger-rail grants; and $25 million for transit energy efficiency grants in fiscal-year 2012.

According to the legislation, high-speed and intercity passenger-rail funds can be used for: conducting research and demonstrating technologies supporting the development of high-speed rail in the United States, including the demonstration of next-generation rolling stock fleet technology; planning activities that lead directly to the development of a passenger-rail corridor investment plan; or to facilitate the preparation of a service development plan and related environmental impact statement for high-speed corridors.

“These bills are focused on a number of basic priorities: job creation, public safety, nutrition, housing, and transportation,” said Rep. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a prepared statement. “It is bipartisan, fiscally responsible and reflects the input of senators on both sides of the aisle.”

The bill now will be taken up by the House.