This week the House Appropriations Committee took steps to pass fiscal year (FY) 2022 government spending for core infrastructure programs. While the committee has not passed all 12-spending bill, lawmakers took the initial steps by passing FY22 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD); Commerce, Justice, and Science (CST); Interior and Environment; Energy and Water Development; and Homeland Security Spending Bills. Specifically, under each bill House Appropriations provided:
THUD Spending. For FY22, the bill provides funding of $84.1 billion, an increase of $8.7 billion – more than 11 percent – above FY21 spending.
- Full funding for core highway and bridge programs authorized under the FAST Act. ASCE’s request was for full funding for these core programs.
- $3.75 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). ASCE’s request was for $4.35 billion.
- $1.2 billion for the RAISE (formerly BUILD and TIGER) grant program. ASCE’s request was for $1.5 billion.
- $2.4 billion for the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. ASCE’s request was for $2.6 billion.
CST Spending. For FY22, the bill provides $81.3 billion, an increase of $10.2 billion – 14 percent – above FY21 spending.
- $9.6 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF). ASCE’s request was for $10 billion.
- $1.35 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). ASCE’s request was for $1.1 billion.
Interior and Environment Spending. For FY22, the bill provides $43.4 billion, an increase of $7.3 billion – 20.2 percent – above FY21 spending.
- $3.23 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. ASCE’s request was for $ 8.3 billion.
- $250 million for the Brownfields program. ASCE’s request was for $131 million.
Energy and Water Development Spending. For FY22, the bill provides $53.3 billion, an increase of $1.474 billion above FY21 spending.
- $8.6 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ASCE’s request was for $2 billion.
Homeland Security Spending. For FY22, the bill provides funding of $52.8 billion, an increase of $934 million above FY21.
- $18 billion for disaster relief programs. ASCE’s combined request for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Disaster Program, Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Assessment (RiskMAP) program, and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program is $521 million.
While we await a full House vote on all 12 spending bills, the Senate will need to take action to ensure we provide the necessary resources to invest in our infrastructure and avoid a government shutdown.
In ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card our nation’s infrastructure received the grade of a “C-.” This subpar grade because our infrastructure continues to be under funded leading to a 10-year $2.5 trillion investment deficit. ASCE government relations will continue to urge lawmakers to provide the funding our infrastructure needs to rise our grade and build an infrastructure system fit for the 21st century.