Womack Remarks at FY27 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill Subcommittee Markup (As Prepared for Delivery)

Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Clyburn.

The discretionary allocation in the bill is $92.2 billion, $10.7 billion below the Fiscal Year 2026 level. We have also redirected $7.8 billion from low priority programs funded through the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) to support higher priority programs like air traffic control, highways, and freight rail.

The bill prioritizes transportation safety—on our railroads, highways, and in our skies—and ensures a responsible safety net with housing support for our most vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly, the disabled, veterans, and the working poor.

This bill champions the priorities of the Trump Administration, such as $732 million to support the President’s Maritime Action Plan. This includes $165 million for capital needs of the Merchant Marine Academy, a historic investment in our nation’s mariners. 

This bill continues our commitment to maintaining America’s global leadership in aviation through workforce and infrastructure investments. We provide funding to hire and train 2,300 new air traffic controllers, building on historic funding in FY26 for our controller workforce. And we provide another $4 billion for FAA Facilities and Equipment to build a world class national airspace system.

The bill includes a $350 million set-aside in the BUILD program for high-growth areas like Northwest Arkansas, Charleston, Huntsville, and Jacksonville. I know all too well that growing communities face unique infrastructure demands, and this kind of targeted initiative is a responsible use of federal dollars. 

We have included $875 million to support transportation needs for the Olympics, building on the $94 million this Committee provided in FY26. The 2028 games will put America on center stage, and this investment will ensure that we are prepared to meet the moment. 

I would note that the T&I Committee is marking up their 5-year surface transportation reauthorization today. This bill cuts the check for Highway Trust Fund programs, and we look forward to tracking progress on that bill. In the meantime, our FY27 mark holds those Trust Fund programs at FY26 levels. 

The bill provides $64.5 billion for highway programs, including $200 million for tribal transportation and $200 million for truck parking. These resources are directly allocated to state departments of transportation, enabling state and local governments to collaborate on high priority road projects.

The bill invests $523 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program, supporting freight rail infrastructure. The bill meets our responsibility to support our most vulnerable citizens who rely on housing assistance while implementing fiscal discipline.

The funds provided in the bill support authorized rental assistance programs at a fiscally responsible level of $58 billion for Section 8 vouchers, Project Based Rental Assistance, and programs that serve the elderly and disabled. 

The bill provides $4.2 billion for homeless assistance grants, including $3.8 billion for the Continuum of Care program. This program faced a lot of uncertainty last year. This bill continues a bipartisan agreement to ensure certainty for local providers while returning competition to the program. 

We fund Community Development Block Grants at $3.3 billion, maintaining a program that was proposed for elimination. As a former mayor, I know how important this program is to meet local needs. We also include programs that leverage private dollars to support housing affordability, like HOME, SHOP, and NeighborWorks.

This bill represents a responsible approach that prioritizes core infrastructure needs, maintains an essential safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, and implements the fiscal discipline and regulatory relief that the American people demanded in the last election.

I believe the decisions in this bill will have a positive impact in every congressional district while meeting our responsibility to rein in spending and reduce regulatory overreach.

I want to thank all the Members of the subcommittee for their participation in the process so far. This bill reflects many of your priorities. I want to thank my friend, Ranking Member Clyburn, for his collaboration and respect during this process.

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 forward. This will give us a shot at completing our work without endless continuing resolutions. While the Senate has yet to act on their version of this bill, I am pleased that we are doing our job in the House to have the best possible position at the negotiating table. I look forward to working with all of you as the bill moves forward, and I ask for your support for this legislation.