In the wake of the House passage of the fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations Act, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise voiced his support for the legislation on Tuesday.
The legislation includes funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other related agencies; however, funds for the Department of Transportation have been the focus of lawmakers over the past year as they have searched for ways to improve America’s aging infrastructure of highways, roads and bridges.
“By cutting wasteful programs, and focusing on strategically important transportation and infrastructure projects, this bill ensures that our nation’s transportation infrastructure priorities are met in a fiscally responsible manner,” Scalise said. “I commend Chairmen [Mario} Diaz-Balart and [Hal] Rogers for their leadership on this legislation and guiding the fifth appropriations bill across the finish line.”
The legislation allocates funds targeted toward transportation, infrastructure and housing programs, focusing on those that will have the most significant impact on American communities nationwide. Numerous amendments were approved, funneling money to specific programs for agencies and corporations such as Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Association, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and others.
The Appropriations bill passed the House last week by a narrow 216-210 vote. It must be conferenced along with a Senate version of the same legislation before it can be approved and signed into law by the president.