Ahead of infrastructure talks, House Democrats release $137B bill

House Democrats on Wednesday unveiled a $137 billion Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, just hours before Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) were set to meet with President Trump to discuss infrastructure.

The bill increases funding for the agencies by $6 billion in comparison to current spending levels.

{mosads}Democrats had blasted Trump for proposing $5.9 billion in cuts to the Transportation Department budget in his budget request, while at the same time calling for major infrastructure investments. A 21.5 percent cut to that agency, they said, did not bode well for a bold infrastructure plan.

“This year’s transportation and housing funding bill makes significant new investments in infrastructure, prioritizes safety, and protects vulnerable populations — a stark contrast to the Trump administration’s draconian budget proposal,” said Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies.

Much of the increased funding in the bill was allocated toward the Department of Housing and Urban Development, increasing budgets for Indian housing, rental assistance, veteran homelessness programs and community planning and development. 

In their last meeting on infrastructure, Pelosi, Schumer and Trump agreed to work toward a $2 trillion infrastructure plan. Wednesday’s meeting is meant to fill in details on what to include in the plan and how to pay for it.