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1 1 (September 21, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdbxh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Researh Sevice Furloughs Likely If FAST Act and Transportation Appropriations Not Extended by September 30 September 21, 2020 On September 30, 2020, federal surface transportation programs face the expiration of both the authorizations provided in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act; P.L. 114-94) and appropriations provided in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94). Acontinuing resolution is currently under consideration in Congress to extend the FY2020 Appropriations Act. The continuing resolution may be the legislative vehicle for extension of the FAST Act authorizations. Not extending the FAST Act would have a larger impact in terms of surface transportation program shutdowns and furloughs than an appropriations lapse. The largest impact on surface transportation programs would result from a lapse in both authorization and appropriations simultaneously. How the two expirations would affect transportation programs depends on whether a program or activity is funded through the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) or with appropriated budget authority from the Treasury's general fund. The Anti-DeficiencyAct (ADA; 31 U.S.C. §1341 )prohibits agencies from incurring obligations that are in advance of appropriations except in certain circumstances. This means that transportation programs and activities funded by general funds must be appropriated. In contrast, HTF funding is a form of budget authority that by law may be obligated prior to an appropriation, and is effectively an exception under the ADA. HTF funds must be authorized, however, and that authorization expires September 30, along with authorizations for various programs funded through the HTF. If the FAST Act is not extended or replaced, all HTF-funded personnel not needed to fulfill excepted activities under the ADA (such as life, safety, and the protection of property), or funded with appropriations, would be furloughed. Approximately 3,500 to 4,000 employees in the five Department of Transportation surface transportation agencies discussed below would be affected. Under a lapse of annual appropriations, all appropriations-funded non-excepted programs and activities in the Department of Transportation would shut down. Roughly 900 to 1,000 non-excepted surface transportation program employees would be furloughed. If both a FAST Act extension and a continuing resolution are not enacted by September 30, 2020, all surface transportation programs would shut down and all non-excepted employees would be furloughed. The total number of employees furloughed would be in the range of 4,400 to 5,000. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov INI 1509 CRS MN GHT Prepa red M. Membersand Com0 , fti esefmo gCo n r -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -