FY16 THUD Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary

Press Release

The fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) bill provides a total of $55.6 billion in discretionary budget authority, an increase of $1.88 billion from fiscal year 2015 and $7.3 billion less than the President's budget request, excluding the President's proposal to shift certain transportation accounts from discretionary to mandatory. However, given reduced offsets -- caused by a $1.1 billion decline in Federal Housing Administration receipts and a $2.3 billion increase in the cost of maintaining existing rental housing assistance -- the bill actually represents a decrease of $1.9 billion below current funding levels.

The Subcommittee's allocation conforms to the post-sequester caps under the Budget Control Act. Not one Senate Democrat voted for these spartan spending levels because they fail to adequately protect America, build infrastructure, create opportunity, and spur economic growth. We need a new budget deal, in the spirit of Murray-Ryan, that stops hollowing out investments in America's future.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, said:

"Chairman Collins is a truly bipartisan leader and I know how hard she has worked to maintain funding for some critical programs we both support, but the unrealistic discretionary spending level the Subcommittee was given to work with makes it impossible to avoid cuts to essential transportation, housing, and community priorities. Neglecting transportation and public housing responsibilities at the federal level overburdens states and local communities and leads to more congestion, pollution, and job losses. We can't afford to go further down that road. I will continue working with Chairman Collins to try to strategically leverage federal dollars for critical housing and transportation priorities that generate benefits for all Americans. Ultimately, the solution lies in a new, bipartisan budget agreement that allows the federal government to responsibly fulfill its obligations and help strengthen our nation's infrastructure."

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement:

"I thank Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Reed for their bipartisanship and transparency. I will support the motion to report the THUD bill. But this bill is effectively $1.9 billion less than fiscal year 2015 and is another example of how sequester is shortchanging America -- in this case, America's infrastructure and housing needs. Within the bill, increases for vitally important programs come as a result of significant decreases to other vitally important programs that meet compelling human needs. It picks winners and losers in affordable housing programs and our transportation systems.

"The bill provides $200 million for the Red and Purple Lines, creating new jobs corridors in Maryland. The Red Line in particular will bring jobs to West Baltimore, the community where riots broke out after Freddie Gray's death and a community where jobs and opportunity are needed most. The bill also preserves key housing programs in Baltimore that were facing a $42 million cut and connects stringent safety criteria to Metro funding. Even though I am extremely frustrated with Metro's leadership, we can't turn our back on Metro's riders and workers -- their safety depends on the full funding of $150 million included in this bill."

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