WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives’ vote on appropriations for the Department of Transportation, which would include a 64% cut in Amtrak funding as well as a prohibition on federal funds for California’s high speed rail project, is still pending. It had originally been reported as on the schedule for Wednesday [see “House set to vote on spending bill ….,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 31, 2023].
The House Rules Committee did advance the bill on Wednesday, setting rules for consideration by the full House and determining a package of some 74 amendments to be included. Some 203 amendments had been submitted, although some of those were subsequently withdrawn. The amendments advanced range from a slight increase in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant funding to efforts to cut Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s salary to $1 and deny him the use of a government-leased vehicle.
The House meets again today.
The Senate, meanwhile, on Wednesday passed a package of appropriations bills totaling almost $280 billion, including one covering the Department of Transportation, Politico reports.
American Public Transportation Association CEO Paul P. Skoutelas applauded the Senate vote in a statement, saying it fully funds the transportation provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, incuding $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.7 billion for passenger and freight rail.
This funding, Skoutelas said, “will make public transit and passenger rail faster, more modern, frequent, and reliable while tackling climate change, advancing equity, and providing communities with sustainable mobility choices.
“However, the U.S. House of Representatives’ THUD Appropriations bill cuts public transit investment by $2.3 billion, slashing [Capital Investment Grants] funding to the lowest level in at least two decades. These cuts would cost America more than 100,000 jobs.
“We urge the House of Representatives to similarly honor the commitment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and fully fund public transportation investments in the FY 2024 THUD appropriations bill.”
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