Committee Releases FY25 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2025 bill for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 27th at 8:30 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR) said, “Focusing DOT and HUD programs on vital infrastructure, transportation safety, and housing needs while protecting taxpayer dollars is my top priority for the FY25 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Unprecedented spending levels cannot continue in perpetuity, which is why this legislation ensures agencies prioritize their core mission. As a former mayor, I understand how this legislation will directly impact economic opportunities and the quality of life of every Arkansan and American. I look forward to advancing this bill and thank Chairman Cole for his leadership.”

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “Economic growth and development, quality of life, and transportation safety are pillars of the legislation before us. From our roads and bridges to the sea and sky, it supports the safety and security of vital transit systems, while also maintaining affordable and safe housing for our most vulnerable. We protect U.S. truckers, consumers, and taxpayers from onerous regulations, administrative overreach, and growing threats from Communist China. Chairman Womack’s commitment to fiscal discipline and experience as a mayor and appropriator are reflected through every provision in this bill.”

Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $90.400 billion, which is $7.084 billion (7.3%) below the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level.

The bill provides a non-defense discretionary total of $90.022 billion and a defense discretionary total of $378 million.

This bill prioritizes highway, railway, and aviation safety while maintaining housing assistance for our nation’s most vulnerable.

Key Takeaways

• Bolsters our national security by:
  • Responsibly funding DOT’s modal administration to ensure our world-class transportation system is safe and efficient.
  • Countering Chinese influence in autonomous vehicle manufacturing.
  • Funding the authorized levels for national strategic sealift operations, including doubling the number of tanker ships.
• Focuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities by:
  • Reducing funding by $2.981 billion across 14 grant programs:
    • Reducing funding for the Department of Transportation (DOT) grant programs by $2.044 billion, which is 36% below the FY24 enacted level.
    • Reducing funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant programs by $937 million, which is 44% below the FY24 enacted level.
  • Rejecting the Administration’s request to increase wasteful climate and equity initiatives. 
  • Eliminating over $430 million in unauthorized Biden Administration initiatives, including:
    • $25 million DOT Thriving Communities, a “Justice40”-related program.
    • $50 million for HUD Green New Deal public housing.
    • $140 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods program.
    • $100 million HUD Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) program, which gives bureaucrats in Washington the power to change local zoning laws.
    • $10 million for unnecessary eviction legal assistance grants.
  • Rejecting the Administration’s request for additional programs and initiatives totaling nearly $401 million, including:
    • $10 million to electrify DOT’s federal vehicle fleet.
    • $100 million for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail.
    • $241 million to expand HUD vouchers.
    • $50 million to resurrect the Build Back Better housing agenda, through the FirstHOME Downpayment Assistance Initiative.
• Supports American values and principles by:
  • Maintaining housing assistance for vulnerable Americans, including the elderly, disabled, and veterans.
    • Providing full renewal for all currently-leased, tenant-based rental assistance vouchers, all project-based rental assistance contracts, and all housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities contracts; and
    • Responsibly funding homeless assistance grant programs.
  • Prohibiting the DOT and HUD from implementing the Biden Administration’s woke executive orders on equity or implementing equity action plans.
  • Prohibiting the use of funds for training of federal employees or contractors to promote critical race theory or related concepts.
  • Prohibiting implementation of the Administration’s final greenhouse gas emissions rule, which would be especially burdensome for rural states.
  • Prohibiting congestion pricing in the New York City metro area.
  • Prohibiting funds from being used to require inward-facing cameras or require a motor carrier to be enrolled in the Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeship program as conditions for participation in the safe driver apprenticeship pilot program.
  • Prohibiting the enforcement of the electronic logging device rule with respect to commercial motor carriers transporting livestock or insects.
  • Prohibiting federal overreach of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on America’s truckers by barring requirements for trucks to be equipped with speed limiting devices.
  • Prohibiting states from implementing trucking hours of service requirements that are more stringent than the federal standards.
  • Prohibiting the implementation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which would place an undue burden on American manufacturers and consumers and force them into buying an electric vehicle.
  • Prohibiting mask mandates on public transportation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Prohibiting funds for the failed California High Speed rail project.
  • Preventing implementation of the Administration’s proposed “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule, which would put a severe regulatory burden on small- and medium-sized municipalities, public housing authorities, and other entities and bury them in developing “Equity Plans.”
  • Preventing funding in violation of current law regarding ineligibility of illegal immigrants for federal housing assistance.
  • Allowing only the American flag and other official flags to be flown at Departments and agencies covered in our bill.
  • Prohibiting funds for unnecessary regulations and controversial climate executive orders.
  • Prohibiting HUD funds to be made available for local sanctuary jurisdictions.
  • Prohibiting funds to be used to discriminate against Americans who support traditional marriage.
  • Banning new commercial flights to the hostile regime of Cuba.
  • Blocking revised energy standards for newly constructed homes financed by HUD that would increase costs in an already constrained housing market.
  • Repealing CARES Act overreach into local housing eviction decisions.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill text is available here.

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