Committee approves THUD funding bill led by Collins

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill on Thursday that was led by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

Collins, the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on THUD, said the funding bill would make “vital investments” in the nation’s infrastructure, help meet housing needs of the most vulnerable and provide funding for economic development projects that create jobs.

“Consistent with other subcommittees, we have drafted a bill that reflects consensus, not controversy,” Collins said.

The bill outlines $40 million for grants to combat youth homelessness, $50 million for new Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, and $2.3 billion for homeless assistance grants.

“We accomplished important work this week by passing funding measures that will benefit our veterans, infrastructure and efforts to address the threat of the Zika virus,” U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said. “As we continue to move forward with the appropriations process, I am pleased that we are doing so in a fiscally responsible way and prioritizing programs that matter to West Virginians.”

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) noted that the bill would fund essential infrastructure projects and support economic development.

“Infrastructure is an important part of our everyday lives, from our roads to the skies to our railways,” Daines said. “I’m proud to secure investments to increase safety and create more good-paying jobs.”

The THUD funding bill prioritizes programs and projects that make the transportation system safer and more efficient, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) said.

“The THUD bill makes necessary investments in our nation’s transportation infrastructure, including the need to accommodate for growth in places like western North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “Expanding and relocating facilities like Williston’s Sloulin Field International Airport is a long-term investment in regional infrastructure and economies that should pay dividends for decades to come. At the same time, the VA section of the bill includes legislation that improves health care services for our men and women veterans in rural areas.”