House Transportation Funding Leaders Unveil Fiscal 2016 Bill
The transportation funding panel in the House on April 28 released legislation that would provide $572 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency that oversees the trucking industry.
Of those funds, $218 million would go toward the motor carrier safety assistance program, $30 million would be provided for the commercial driver license program improvement grants and $25 million for the commercial vehicle information systems and networks deployment program.
Overall, the measure would provide $55.3 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2016 for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as related agencies. That would be $1.5 billion above the fiscal 2015 level and $9.7 billion less than President Obama’s budget request. For DOT, the bill would provide $17.2 billion in discretionary spending.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx was unhappy that policy riders were included in the funding bill, according to The Hill.
"There's some very important safety protections that are being challenged through the appropriations process, without the benefit of hearings, without the benefit of ... testing those riders in the warm glow of public discourse," he said.
The measure also would maintain the suspension of certain hours-of-service rules for truck drivers.
The legislation also would provide $40.25 billion in formula highway spending for the Highway Trust Fund, matching the 2015 level. That funding would be contingent on adoption of a transportation policy bill that would update the programs in MAP-21, the 2012 highway law which expires at the end of May.
The bill also would allow for the increase of the allowable length of truck trailers from 28 to 33 feet.
“This bill supports our nation’s most critical infrastructure and housing needs by focusing on core operations and cutting wasteful programs. Though difficult decisions had to be made, I am confident our priorities will ensure the stability of these vital areas. I look forward to continue working with my colleagues to move this bill through the legislative process,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.
“This bill invests in critical infrastructure programs that will keep our people and our business moving, and that will make our roads, rails and airways safe for all,” said Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the full Appropriations Committee. The subcommittee will take up the bill April 29 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2358-A at the Rayburn House Office Building.
