After the 2016 transportation/HUD spending bill was approved last week by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, as well as the full committee, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) announced the provisions and language that he managed to get inserted into the bill.
The legislation, which allocates $55.65 billion in spending for transportation and infrastructure projects, now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
“I’m pleased the committee-passed bill prioritizes several important programs to make transportation systems safe, efficient and reliable,” Blunt said. “I look forward to the full Senate approving this bill, and I’ll keep working to ensure Missouri and other states have the resources they need to support transportation and infrastructure systems nationwide.”
The bill provides more than $40 billion for federal highway projects and also increases funds in the U.S. aviation, rail safety, ports, and intermodal water and land sectors. The Blunt provisions include $5 million for Marine highway grants, $154 million for FAA contract towers, funding for Federal Transit Authority Bus Service, and language to correct flawed processes related to the transport of hazardous materials and hours-of-service exemptions for rail-service employees and other members of the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA).