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Last week, the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies marked up "Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2003" (H.R. 246), which includes $101.3 million for the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) in fiscal-year 2004, according to Association of American Railroads. The appropriation is $1.5 million more than President Bush's recommended amount, but less than RBB's requested $102.5 million.


Had the bill included the president's proposed $99.8 million appropriation, the agency would have had to cut staff and employee benefits, and delay information-technology initiatives to make up the deficit, RBB officials said.


The board administers retirement/survivor and unemployment/sickness benefit programs for U.S. railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance acts. The Railroad Retirement Act enables RRB to request an appropriation from Congress.