Fiscal Year 15 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development

Floor Speech

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (H.R. 4745). This bill provides $1.8 billion less than the FY 14 omnibus. It underfunds too many critical investments that maintain and support our infrastructure and housing.

Specifically, I strongly oppose the dramatic cut and new restrictions on the TIGER program. House Republicans included only $100 million for TIGER grants, an 80 percent cut from FY 14. While this extreme cut in funding is disappointing, more concerning are the restrictions placed on the grant program. H.R. 4745 specifically states that only highway, bridge, freight rail and port projects are eligible for TIGER grants. Public transit, including light rail and passenger rail, would no longer be eligible for these critical dollars. Republican leaders repeatedly stated that the provision was inserted to focus TIGER grants on what they call ``essential projects.'' In my district and many other communities across the country, public transit is an essential project. My communities depend on these dollars to help support passenger rail and multimodal projects, such as light rail, streetcars and dedicated Bus Rapid Transit.

In addition to TIGER, other transit initiatives were cut, including New Starts (a 13 percent cut) and Amtrak (a 14 percent cut). This ongoing attack on public transit is unacceptable.

Unfortunately, the investments in housing in this bill are also insufficient. HOME Investment Partnership Grants were cut by 30 percent, to near historic lows. In my district, the HOME program is used to help first time homebuyers with the cost of a down payment and closing cost, which can be prohibitive for many buyers looking for a first home of their own. Another program supported by HOME finances maintenance to preserve federally supported housing, especially important considering the shortage of affordable housing. A 30 percent cut to these programs means fewer homebuyers helped and critical repairs to decaying affordable housing are unaddressed.

Transportation and housing are the backbone of our communities. Stable, affordable housing and access to jobs helps to stabilize communities and promote economic growth. H.R. 4745 fails to sufficiently invest in our communities and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

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