Senator Collins Secures Significant Funding Increase for TIGER Program in Transportation Spending Bill

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced today that the fiscal year (FY) 2017 THUD funding bill contains $525 million for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program, an increase of $25 million over the FY 2016 enacted level.

“TIGER grants support projects in Maine and across the country that rebuild infrastructure, enhance safety, create jobs, and grow the economy,” said Senator Collins.  “I have strongly supported this program since its inception, and I am pleased that our legislation includes a significant increase for oversubscribed TIGER competitive grants.  I will continue to advocate for additional TIGER funding for infrastructure projects in Maine.”

The TIGER program was established in 2009 to provide federal assistance for vital transportation projects.  To date, Maine has received more than $112 million for highway, bridge, airport, rail, and port projects.  Last year, 625 applicants from all 50 states and territories requested nearly $10 billion in assistance, demonstrating the need for and popularity of this program.

In July 2015, Senators Collins, Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the TIGER Act, which would reauthorize the successful TIGER grant program.