Van Hollen Applauds WMATA Funding in Subcommittee Bill

Statement

Today, the House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 2011 appropriations bill, including $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Below is Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen's statement on this vote:

"I applaud Chairman John Olver and the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee for including $150 million for WMATA in the FY11 Subcommittee bill. The Washington Metropolitan Region relies heavily on the metro system to bring thousands of federal employees and others to work every day and to serve the millions of visitors to our nation's capital every year.

"Today's funding, authorized in the bipartisan Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, will allow WMATA to make vital investments in safety and system maintenance. Improving the safety of the metro system is a top priority, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this essential funding is maintained as the appropriations bill continues through the House and Senate."

BACKGROUND:

The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 authorized $1.5 billion over 10 years for capital and preventative maintenance for WMATA, to be matched by state and local funding partners. The first installment of funding was allocated in FY 2010. Today's vote begins the process for appropriation of FY 2011 funds; the bill now proceeds to the full Committee and the House floor.

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