CONGRESS FINALLY COMPLETES 2003 SPENDING BILL
The House and Senate finally completed a $397.4-billion omnibus appropriations package for fiscal 2003 on Thursday that includes $31.6 billion for highway construction and safety programs, a 0.65 percent reduction from funding levels originally approved last year.
Congress has continued funding for several government departments at 2002 levels since Oct. 1 because it could not agree on a fiscal year 2003 budget. In 2002 Congress appropriated $31.8 billion for highways.
The lower budget figure is in line with President Bush's spending limits.