Womack Remarks at FY25 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill Subcommittee Markup

The Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will come to order.

Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Quigley.

The bill we are considering today meets our Nation’s most critical transportation and housing needs while reducing excessive spending and regulatory burdens.

The discretionary allocation in the bill is $90.4 billion, $7 billion below the Fiscal Year 2024 level. This is a 7.3% reduction.

We have carefully allocated resources to the most critical missions at DOT and HUD.

The bill prioritizes transportation safety – on our railways, roads and airways.

And we ensure a responsible safety net with housing support for our most vulnerable citizens – especially the elderly, the disabled, veterans, and the working poor.

We have cut or eliminated 14 grant programs at DOT and HUD, totaling nearly $3 billion in savings, compared to the enacted level.

I believe we best serve our constituents by making targeted investments that create jobs and improve quality of life, while meeting our responsibility to get spending under control.

Under Chairman Cole’s leadership, we are doing our part by writing bills to the levels set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

This bill includes both targeted investments and targeted cuts. I believe the decisions in this bill will have a positive impact in every Congressional district, while meeting our responsibility to rein in spending.

Transportation safety is our highest priority for DOT.

I am proud to build on aviation investments made in FY24 by Chairman Cole when he chaired this subcommittee. Airlines are expecting to carry a record number of travelers this summer, a 6% increase over last year.

This bill also continues to make progress on last year’s investments in the FAA workforce and air traffic modernization.

The bill provides funding to train 2,000 new controllers to backfill the retiring workforce and deploy air traffic controllers to understaffed facilities.

I would note that funding in this bill supports advancements made by the FAA reauthorization passed last month, including a $650 million increase for airport infrastructure, financed through the airport and airway trust fund.

This bill provides $61 billion for highways and bridges through the highway trust fund. These resources are directly allocated to your state departments of transportation – enabling state and local governments to collaborate on the highest priority road projects.

The bill provides $200 million for tribal transportation and $200 million for truck parking through discretionary highway funding. These targeted investments will enhance safety and improve the flow of commerce on our interstate highway system and on tribal lands.

The bill supports DOT’s maritime mission with full funding for security programs, including a $60 million increase for the tanker security program, consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act.

Looking at DOT as a whole, you will see that the bill makes targeted transportation investments to improve the flow of freight and ensure the safety of the traveling public.

It is a responsible approach that also reduces regulatory burdens with targeted policy provisions that de-fund burdensome executive orders and over-zealous regulations.

The bill meets our responsibility to support our most vulnerable citizens who rely on housing assistance to live in dignity.

These housing programs are run at the local level, through public housing authorities, private landlords, and many faith-based organizations.

The bill supports self-sufficiency programs so that families can move up and out of rental assistance.

I’ve heard from Members on both sides of the aisle on the importance of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), so we provide the FY 24 enacted level of $3.3 billion for this program.

CDBG supports decision-making at the local level to meet critical economic development needs. The Administration proposed a $500 million cut to the CDBG formula program, instead proposing to prioritize programs where decisions are made in Washington. We disagree with that approach and have restored this critical funding.

The bill rejects Biden Administration proposals to expand housing programs with emergency designations and mandatory spending. We are obligated to make tough choices and we have done just that by maintaining – rather than expanding – housing support for our most vulnerable citizens.

We have included funding prohibitions in this bill that will scale back the Biden Administration’s regulatory overreach.

The bill prohibits DOT from imposing executive orders and regulations that add burdens to rural states and small towns that don’t have the luxury of spending millions on consultants and grant-writers.

And the bill scales back HUD’s ability to impose bureaucratic requirements related to energy efficiency and fair housing. We can meet these goals without the heavy hand of government.

I want to thank all the Members of the subcommittee for their participation in the process so far.

I have learned from each of you through our hearing process, and all the ideas you have brought to me – either through your formal requests or through casual conversations. This bill is better because of your participation.

Thank you again, Chairman Cole, for your leadership in moving appropriations bills down the field. This will give us a shot at completing our work without endless continuing resolutions.

While the Senate has yet to act, I am pleased that we are doing our job in the House to have the best possible position at the negotiating table. I am confident that you and Ranking Member DeLauro will help strike a deal that responsibly funds the government while protecting House priorities.

We couldn’t ask for better leaders at the top of this Committee.

Finally, I would ask that Members reserve any amendments until Full Committee.

I look forward to working with all of you as the bill moves forward, and I ask for your support for this legislation.

I now recognize Ranking Member Quigley for his opening remarks.