AAPA: House T-HUD bill includes port infrastructure funds, rail grant increase

The House fiscal-year 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) appropriations bill includes $225 million for port infrastructure development and $15 million for marine highway projects, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced yesterday.

The appropriations for domestic port projects are top priorities for the association, AAPA officials said in an emailed statement.

The $225 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program was $68 million below the FY2019 enacted level. However, President Trump's FY2020 budget request did not including funding for the program, AAPA officials said.

The bill also includes $350 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, which is $95 million above the FY2019 enacted level and $20 million above the president's budget request.

Additionally, the bill calls for $1 billion for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, which is $100 million above the FY2019 enacted level and the same level as the president's budget request.

The U.S. Senate has not yet announced the markup of its FY2020 T-HUD appropriations bill.