Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 17, 2025… Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was reported favorably by the Committee to the full House by a vote of 35-28.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR) said,

“The FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill presents a critical opportunity to right size funding levels in order to support the programs that benefit Americans most and to use taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible.

“Our nation’s transportation and housing needs are increasingly complex, requiring the proper resources to modernize our aviation industry, rebuild and expand critical infrastructure—like roads, bridges, railways, and ports—while also ensuring that housing assistance empowers Americans across the country. This bill directly addresses these priorities, fostering investment in our communities and promoting economic growth.

“Among its many impactful provisions, the bill allocates an additional $2 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), preserves funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program, reduces discretionary spending by five percent, and provides funds to address our national truck parking shortage.

“We have been operating under outdated policies and funding levels from two years ago, doing a disservice to the American people. It is my hope that the rest of the House will join us in passing this legislation so we can fulfill our Congressional duty of annually appropriating taxpayer dollars. I want to thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and my fellow subcommittee members for their contributions to this bill.”

Chairman Womack’s full opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available HERE.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-4) delivered the following remarks during the markup, “With today’s FY26 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill, we are building America’s future—improving how we travel, where we live, and how we grow as a nation. From our roads and bridges to our ports and skies, it supports the safety and security of vital transit systems. Enhanced resources for FAA facilities and equipment will modernize air traffic control, hire needed controllers, and accelerate the deployment of new technologies. We also empower local communities through programs that support economic development and housing assistance for vulnerable Americans. Investments maintain vital missions while advancing fiscal discipline through the elimination of wasteful and duplicative initiatives. Chairman Womack’s commitment to delivering savings and results for U.S. taxpayers—and his experience as a mayor—is reflected in every provision of this just-approved out of committee bill.”

Chairman Cole's full opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available HERE.

Bill highlights:

Invests in transportation safety and rebuilds America by:

• Increasing funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by $2.307 billion over FY25 enacted levels, which will keep our skies safe and help build a world-class air traffic control system.
• Providing the FAA with resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers and replace FAA’s aged telecommunication infrastructure.
• Redirecting $4.4 billion in wasteful Democratic priorities from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) to instead invest in safety and improve the movement of freight and the traveling public.
• Supporting the next generation of mariners through investments in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:

• Upholding America First priorities by guaranteeing that the U.S. has the most modern, safe, and efficient transportation system in the world.
• Empowering HUD to refocus housing assistance to promote self-sufficiency while maintaining support for America’s most vulnerable – including the elderly and disabled.
• Reinforcing President Trump’s executive orders on eliminating DEI initiatives, regulatory streamlining, American security, and innovation.
• Rebuilding America with $3.8 billion above FY25 for highways, rail, airports, and maritime infrastructure.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:

• Promoting defense readiness capabilities by funding the U.S. Merchant Marines, shipyards, the strategic sealift programs, including the Cable Security Program, the Maritime Security Program, and the Tanker Security Program.
• Supporting America’s vehicle and aircraft manufacturers to ensure global leadership and to counter China’s malign influence.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:

• Cutting or redirecting $9.4 billion through program eliminations, rescissions, and repurposing, as compared to a Continuing Resolution that would repeat Democrat priorities.
• Cutting HUD staff by 26%, consistent with reductions in force implemented by Secretary Turner, saving $334 million in salaries and expenses compared to the FY25 enacted level. Overall, the bill cuts staff by 5% across all Departments and Agencies, while holding DOT safety position harmless.
• Returning agencies to their core missions by eliminating and reducing 38 wasteful programs, totaling $7.3 billion in savings below FY25.

A summary of the bill is available HERE.

The bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available HERE.

A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available HERE.

A video of Chairman Womack’s opening remarks is available HERE.

A full recording of the markup is available HERE.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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