Skip Navigation

June 25, 2001
 

Honorable James P. Moran
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman,

As you requested, the Congressional Budget Office has reviewed an amendment to H.R. 2299, the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002, that was adopted by the Appropriations Committee on June 20, 2001. The amendment would require the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to redesignate the National Airport Station as the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station, and to change all signs, maps, directories, and other documentation to reflect the new name. Our review was confined to determining whether that requirement constitutes an intergovernmental mandate as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and, if so, whether the costs of that mandate would exceed the threshold established in that act.

UMRA defines an intergovernmental mandate as an enforceable duty imposed upon state, local, or tribal governments, unless that duty is imposed as a condition of federal assistance. Because the requirement to rename the station is not a condition of federal assistance, it would be considered an intergovernmental mandate under UMRA. No funding is provided in the bill to cover the costs of complying with the mandate. However, based on information from WMATA, CBO estimates that those costs would be less than $500,000, well below the threshold established in UMRA ($56 million in 2001).

If you wish further information, we will be pleased to provide it. The CBO contact is Susan Tompkins.

Sincerely,

Dan L. Crippen
Director
 

cc:	Honorable C.W. Bill Young Chairman House Committee on Appropriations
	Honorable David Obey Ranking Democrat
	Honorable Harold Rogers Chairman Subcommittee on Transportation House Committee on Appropriations
	Honorable Martin Olav Sabo Ranking Democrat
	Honorable Todd Tiahrt