Senate Committee Approves FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act, providing support to improve America’s infrastructure and address housing affordability challenges.  

The measure, which was advanced by a bipartisan vote of 29-0, provides $98.931 billion in discretionary funding, including $448 million in defense and $98.483 billion in non-defense funding.

“This legislation provides significant investments to improve our nation’s airports, roads, bridges, and ports, as well as increasing the supply of safe, affordable housing for communities throughout the country,” said Senator Collins.  “Despite a challenging budget year, the bill maintains existing rental assistance for more than 4.6 million households and continues to make meaningful investments aimed at tackling homelessness.  I thank Ranking Member Hyde-Smith for her work in crafting this legislation, and as the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

“We’ve crafted a fiscally-responsible bill that adheres to the budgetary constraints while continuing to foster and grow the safest, most reliable transportation system in the world, one that is critical for improving public safety and our economy.  We also maintain federal rental assistance on which working families, seniors, and others rely, while also adding resources to end homelessness among veterans and youth.  Ending cycles of dependency requires promoting self-sufficiency and financial literacy tools, which is why I am pleased that the bill funds HUD self-sufficiency programs,” said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Ranking Member of the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee.  “The FY2024 THUD Appropriations Act is worthy of consideration and passage by the full Senate, and I hope that will happen in the near future.”

Bill Highlights:

Department of Transportation (DOT): $28.43 billion in discretionary budget authority.

• Office of the Secretary: $1.5 billion, including $800 million for the RAISE grant program and $348.6 million to continue funding the Essential Air Service program.

• Federal Aviation Administration: $20.3 billion, including $12.7 billion for Operations, $3.4 billion for Facilities and Equipment, $260 million for Research and Development, and $3.85 billion for the Airport Improvement Program.  This funding provides for an additional 1,800 new air traffic controllers and continues to support modernizing the legacy systems in our National Airspace.

• Federal Highway Administration: $62.8 billion, including $1.145 billion for the Bridge Formula Program and $20 million for the National Scenic Byways Program.

• Federal Railroad Administration: $3.4 billion, including $2.45 billion for Amtrak and $573 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program.

• Federal Transit Administration: $16.9 billion, including $2.45 billion for the Capital Investment Grants program, $162 million for the bus and bus facilities program, and $43 million for the ferry program, which includes rural ferries.

• Maritime Administration: $1.2 billion, including $213 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $20 million for Small Shipyards Grants.  This funding also includes $448 million to fully fund the Maritime Security Program, Cable Security Fleet, and Tanker Security Program, which are critical to national security.  $131 million is provided for State Maritime Academy (SMA) Operations, which includes $91.8 for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessels program and associated SMA shore-side infrastructure improvements.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): $70.1 billion for rental assistance and self-sufficiency support for low-income working families, seniors, and the disabled; housing and services to homeless individuals; and support for economic and community development.

• Office of Public and Indian Housing: $42.1 billion, including $31.7 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance, $8.9 billion for the Public Housing Fund, $198 million for self-sufficiency programs, and $1.1 billion for Native American programs.

• Office of Community Planning and Development: $10.5 billion, including $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, $3.9 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, and $1.5 billion for the HOME program.

• Office of Housing: $17.3 billion, including $15.8 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance, $1.1 billion for Housing for the Elderly, and $360 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities.

Independent Agencies: $437.7 million, including $9.9 million for the Access Board, $43.7 million for the Federal Maritime Administration, $29.2 million for the Amtrak Inspector General, $134.3 million for the National Transportation Safety Board, $170 million for NeighborWorks, $47.4 million for the Surface Transportation Board, and $4.3 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

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