The House passed H.R. 2577 — the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016, on Tuesday night, authorizing funds for the programs of the Departments of Transportation (DOT), Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other related agencies for fiscal year 2016.
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), who voted for the bill, noted the importance of its provisions after the vote.
“This measure is another important step for Congress in continuing its work to pass major pieces of legislation that fall in line with the spending cuts needed to get our nation’s fiscal house back in order,” Shuster, chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said. “We must now use the funding to continue addressing and supporting our infrastructure needs with new ideas that promote competitiveness and economic growth.”
The bill was approved, but funded at $9.7 billion below the amount President Obama requested. The House has now passed five of the 12 appropriations bills in the pipeline for fiscal year 2016.
“Without a strong transportation network, we cannot have a strong economy, and I am committed to finding ways to modernize and improve all of our modes of transportation through fiscally responsible and innovative legislative measures.”
The bill includes funding for roads and highways through the Highway Trust Fund, air travel services through the Federal Aviation Administration and railroad infrastructure improvements through the Federal Railroad Administration. It also contains funding for agencies that manage safety programs, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.