House panel releases $55B transit, housing bill

The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday released a $55.3 billion bill funding the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments, as well as related agencies, for fiscal 2016.

{mosads}The bill provides $1.5 billion more than the current 2015 level, but $9.7 billion less than President Obama’s request.

For fiscal 2016, which begins Oct. 1, the bill would provide $17.2 billion to the Transportation Department, which is $1 billion below the 2015 level and $6.8 billion below Obama’s request.

It provides nearly $40.3 billion from the Highway Trust Fund, whose authorization expires at the end of May.

The Federal Aviation Administration would receive $15.9 billion, which is $159 million above 2015 and $40 million above Obama’s request. This provides funding to air traffic personnel.

The Federal Railroad Administration would receive $1.4 billion, which is $262 million below 2015 level. Of the total, $289 million would fund Amtrak.

The bill would provide $10.7 billion to the Federal Transit Administration, which is $161 million less than 2015.

Housing and Urban Development would receive $42 billion, which is $1 billion above the 2015 level and $3 billion less than Obama’s request.

A House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over transportation will mark the bill up Wednesday.

This marks the fourth 2016 spending bill released so far. House GOP leaders had planned on voting on two this week, but the delayed release of a budget deal could shift the schedule.