Future of Transportation Caucus Highlights IIJA
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Three senior House Democrats recently called on the Biden administration to protect certain funding obligations approved in 2021’s bipartisan infrastructure law.
The Future of Transportation Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), said it wants President Joe Biden before leaving office to safeguard major transit and public transportation programs. Funding for such programs was facilitated primarily by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Garcia, along with Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Mark Takano of California, argued the infrastructure programs’ longevity might be cut short during President-elect Donald Trump’s tenure.
“The president-elect’s first term offers clues on what direction his administration may take on transportation and infrastructure. For example, the disbursement of grants for public transportation projects was often delayed by months at a time, leading to unnecessary additional costs.
“In addition, discretionary grant awards disproportionately favored road expansion projects, which are well-known to induce increased greenhouse gas emissions while doing nothing to relieve congestion long term,” the lawmakers wrote Biden on Jan. 6.
I led a letter with my Future of Transportation Caucus colleagues on steps the Biden Administration can take now to ensure funds from the #BIL and #IRA are safeguarded and our progress is kept.
To read more, click here: https://t.co/2MvhwlgdXf — Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) January 8, 2025
Central to the House Democrats’ agenda are long-term funding guarantees for a variety of transit projects as well as grants for public transportation connectivity-improvement programs. Established in 2019, the Future of Transportation Caucus seeks to promote the modernization of the country’s freight and passenger transportation networks. Its priorities include traffic congestion relief, severe-weather resilience and public transit accessibility.
Pressley
“Ensuring that all funds from the [bipartisan infrastructure law] and [Inflation Reduction Act] are obligated, as well as finalizing as many grant agreements as possible, is a critical step in preventing funding from being rescinded by the president-elect’s incoming administration,” the lawmakers continued. “We urge [Federal Transit Administration] to work as expeditiously as possible on projects around the nation awaiting grant agreements to ensure funding is not rescinded or altered in a new administration.”
Tucked in the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act are provisions that facilitate state agencies’ access to funds for transit construction projects. The Biden White House has repeatedly praised investments associated with the IIJA. On its third anniversary in November, the White House affirmed, “Funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law has deployed over 4,600 American-made transit buses and over 8,900 clean school buses in over 1,300 communities across the country, prioritizing disadvantaged communities.”
Takano
This month, FTA announced nearly $150 million for the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corp. The grant is meant to assist with construction of a transit project in the Hoosier State’s central region.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Jan. 7 explained: “The Biden-Harris administration is enhancing the way people travel in the country’s heartland by connecting riders to the airport, students to education, and Indy residents to new opportunities while supporting economic vitality and regional growth.”
Trump’s inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20. During his campaign for re-election, Trump said his administration would promote domestic energy production with a focus on existing fuel-powered vehicles.
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