House Republicans on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies introduced their transportation spending package. The bill provides over $100 billion in funding for transportation programs for fiscal year (FY 2024).
The spending package honors the spending levels promised by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The spending package prioritizes and increases funding for Congressionally Directed Spending, also known as earmarks, and funds them by cutting discretionary grant programs run out of the U.S. Department of Transportation. While only 13 House Republicans voted for the IIJA last Congress, this spending package proves that transportation construction remains politically popular and bipartisan.
Media reports note that the bill includes a $829 million “cut” to federal highways funding. However, in 2023 Congress provided an additional, supplemental $829 million above IIJA funding levels. Put simply, these supplemental funds are like a “bonus” that is not part of your salary, so if you don’t get it the next year it’s not a cut to your pay. With that clarified, it must be noted that AGC supports efforts to include supplemental transportation construction funding above IIJA levels.
The House and Senate will both debate their legislation and then try to reach a compromise. If they are unable to do this by September 30 when the fiscal year ends, then Congress would be forced to pass a continuing resolution.