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U.S. Department of Transportation officials support President Bush’s $58.7 million fiscal-year 2005 transportation budget proposal because the request addresses transportation priorities, demonstrates fiscal responsibility and proposes reforms.

Testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said the budget request includes funds for transit, highway and safety programs identified in the president’s Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, or SAFETEA.

The proposed budget includes Amtrak reforms under the Passenger Rail Investment Reform Act that, if implemented, would increase the national passenger railroad’s funding from the President’s current $900 million request to $1.4 billion annually from 2006 to 2009.