Transportation, HUD
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Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank you for listening to our concerns and for keeping an open dialogue as we have moved through the process.
The Chairman received a tough allocation. On paper, it looks like the allocation is nearly $1.2 billion higher than last year. Don't be deceived.
Because of the sharp differences between OMB and CBO's receipt estimates for the FHA program, this bill is actually $1.8 billionlower than the FY 2014 bill.
With that in mind, the Chairman did try to take care of the safety mission of the Department of Transportation and try to ensure that everyone housed in FY 2014 will be housed in FY 2015.
However, many other programs are frozen at last year's level and others are cut even deeper. For example:
- FTA's Capital Investment Grant program is cut by $252 million;
I would like to thank Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Pastor and welcome Secretary Foxx.
First, I want to commend the work of Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Pastor who have both announced that this will be their last Congress. Iowa and Arizona along with this Committee have benefitted greatly from their service. They will be sorely missed.
This is the Secretary's first hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. I want to personally thank you for the Department's commitment to building the new Tappan Zee Bridge, and I look forward to continuing to work with you on the project.
With a 25% increase for infrastructure spending compared to the 2014 enacted level, the President's budget answers the call for rebuilding our aging country's infrastructure, which the American Society of Civil Engineers grades on average as a "D".
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on President Obama's FY 2015 budget request:
"The FY2015 budget and appropriations process offers Congress its best opportunity in years to reject the politics of brinkmanship and crisis management, and instead fulfill our responsibility to invest in our future, create and protect jobs, and support services on which American families rely.
The State of Arizona, the Appropriations Committee, and all of Congress have benefitted from the hard work, dedication, and wisdom of Congressman Ed Pastor (D-AZ). As Ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, he has fought to invest in our nation's roads and bridges, transportation safety, and affordable housing. He has been a champion for comprehensive immigration reform and represented the working families of his district with dedicated and principled leadership. Ed will be sorely missed, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.
2013 enacted level: $51.8 billion
2014 Committee mark: $44.1 billion
2014 Omnibus: $50.9 billion
· $9.65 billion for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Operations, which is roughly equal to the FY2013 enacted level and $246 million more than the post-sequester level.
· $600 million for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER), which is $100 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
· $2.13 billion for Capital Investment Grants, which is $177 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
· $1.39 billion for Amtrak capital and operating expenses, which is $28 million less than the 2013 enacted level but $45 million more than the post-sequester level.