House Appropriations OKs FY2020 THUD bill

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee yesterday approved the fiscal-year 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) bill, which would boost public transportation and passenger-rail funding to $16.2 billion.

In total, the legislation provides $137.1 billion in funding, a $6 billion increase above the 2019 enacted level and $17.3 billion above President Trump's budget request, said Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) in a press release.

"The Department of Transportation should prioritize safety, and this bill would equip the Department to fund safety upgrades on our roads and rails as well as safety research,” Lowey said. "The bill also would provide adequate funding for the federal share of one of the most important transportation projects in our country to advance commuter safety and the economy — the Gateway tunnel between New Jersey and New York."

The bill includes:
• $1 billion for national infrastructure investments under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, a $100 million increase above the 2019 enacted level and equal to the president's budget request;
• $3 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), $96 million above the 2019 enacted level and $877 million above the president’s budget request;
• $350 million for Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair, $50 million below the 2019 enacted level. The president’s budget request proposed eliminating this program;
• $2 billion for Amtrak, $50 million above the 2019 enacted level and $1.1 billion above the president’s budget request;
• $700 million for Northeast Corridor Grants, $50 million above the 2019 enacted level and $375 million above the president’s budget request;
• $1.3 billion for National Network Grants, equal to the 2019 enacted level and $681 million above the president’s budget request;
• $13.5 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, $60 million above the 2019 enacted level and $1.1 billion above the president’s budget request;
• $2.3 billion for Capital Investment Grants, equal to the authorized level, $251 million below the 2019 enacted level, and $797 million above the president’s budget request; and
• $750 million for Transit Infrastructure Grants, $50 million above the 2019 enacted level and $250 million above the president’s budget request.

Also included in the bill is a measure that prohibits the FRA from recovering funds provided to the California high-speed rail program.