On the heels of the House passing the Moving Forward Act last week, Chairman David Price (D-NC4) and the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies marked up and passed their spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2021. The legislation provides $75.9 billion in total discretionary spending – a 2.2%, or $1.65 billion, increase from FY20. This includes $25.1 billion under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) title, an $122 million increase over the FY20 level. Lastly, this spending bill includes an additional title designated for off-budget emergencies which includes $25.7 billion in total for DOT.
Under both the DOT and emergency titles, the legislation includes the following:
- $500 million supplemental for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) plus an additional $2.5 billion for FAA Grants-in-Aid for Airports for emergency relief. The FY20 funding level was $3.35 billion plus a $400 million supplemental. ASCE’s request was for a $1 billion supplemental.
- $1 billion for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program plus an additional $3 billion in emergency spending for the grant program. The FY20 funding level was $1 billion. ASCE’s request was for $1.5 billion.
- $2.2 billion for the Transit Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program plus an additional $5 billion in emergency spending for the grant program. The FY20 funding level was $1.9 billion. ASCE’s request was for $2.6 billion.
- Overall full funding for core highway and transit programs included in the FAST Act. The FY20 funding level was consistent with core program authorization levels and ASCE’s appropriations request was for full funding of core programs.
- Lastly, the emergency title also included $5 billion for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, $5 billion for Northeast Corridor Grants to Amtrak, $3 billion for National Network Grants to Amtrak, and $1 billion for Port Infrastructure Development Program.
ASCE supports these programs to raise our nation’s subpar aviation, roads, bridges, ports, and transit grades. We are also encouraged that this legislation looks to tackle COVID-19 impacts to our nation’s critical transportation infrastructure and continue to urge for congressional action on relieving the pandemic’s impact on state DOTs.
The legislation was quickly reported to the Full House Appropriations Committee for markup before moving to the House floor for a vote.