House Funding Committee Approves FY23 Transportation Bill

A House panel approved legislation that would ensure the continuity of operations at the U.S. Department of Transportation through fiscal 2023.

The approval by the Democratic-led Appropriations Committee on June 30 advanced the fiscal 2023 transportation funding bill to the floor of the House. The chamber’s leaders have indicated the measure would likely be considered prior to the congressional August recess.

For the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the bill would provide $367.5 million for safety operations and programs, and for the agency’s safety grants division it would provide $506.1 million. Additionally, the measure would dedicate $61.3 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, $18.7 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration, $17.5 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, $3.8 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration and $1.2 billion for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Overall, the legislation would provide $90.9 billion, an increase of $9.9 billion above the enacted level. Specific to trucking policy, the bill would deny funding for the enforcement of an electronic logging device rule pertaining to transporters of livestock and insects.

“With the historic investments included in the 2022 federal spending package and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we are improving our roads, bridges and transit systems, but Americans across the country are still living with the consequences of our crumbling transportation infrastructure and aging housing stock,” said Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). “Our annual duty to the American people to ensure we pay our transportation workers, improve the safety of our roads, and improve housing remains.”

“This year’s [Transportation and Housing and Urban Development] bill builds upon the successes of President [Joe] Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, providing critical funding to augment this once-in-a-generation investment,” added Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), chairman of the transportation funding subcommittee.

On the other side of the Capitol, senators have not announced a vote schedule for their fiscal 2023 funding bills.