| THE RUNWAY: APRIL RECAP |
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| BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROPOSAL PASSAGE | ||
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T&I Passes Committee Budget Reconciliation Proposal, Reducing Nation’s Deficit The Committee’s budget reconciliation proposal was approved on April 30th. The legislation combines critical investments to support President Trump’s border and national security agenda and improve America’s air traffic control system, with cuts in spending and other deficit reducing provisions that will provide a net reduction of more than $10 billion to the nation’s deficit. “With this proposal, the Committee is doing its part to ensure that Republicans fulfill our promise to the American people and the promise of the President’s America First agenda,” Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) said. The legislation will provide investments to bolster the U.S. Coast Guard’s missions to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the country and protect our national security, and to replace the nation’s air traffic control technology. These investments will be more than offset by the elimination of funding for several Green New Deal style programs, a requirement that electric vehicles begin paying for their use of the highway system just like other highway users, and other deficit reduction measures. Numerous stakeholders have written in support of provisions to invest in the U.S. Coast Guard and the nation’s air traffic control system, as well as implementing the user fees. The Committee will now send its legislative recommendations to the House Budget Committee. More information about the markup is available here.
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| SUBCOMMITTEE ACTIVITY | ||
| America Builds: Airport Infrastructure, Safety, and Regulatory Environment
The Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing to examine the current state of U.S. airport infrastructure and the challenges airports face in addressing airside and landside needs. Subcommittee Members discussed ways the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 addressed the growing demand for air travel and opportunities to further improve airport infrastructure. “Federal investment in our nation’s commercial service and general aviation airport infrastructure is vital to ensuring the safety and economic success of the aviation industry,” said Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX). Later in his opening statement, he highlighted the funding and reforms for airport projects included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Both Rep. Nehls and witnesses alike emphasized the need to ensure that these provisions are implemented on time and in the way that Congress intended. Members also brought up the current staffing struggles at airports. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) asked what improvements can be made to help retain and attract airport workers, tradesmen, and other skilled laborers. Witnesses responded, saying that ensuring workers can perform their jobs in a safe environment can help retain a better workforce. Additional information about this hearing is available here.
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| America Builds: A Review of Our Nation’s Transit Policies and Programs
In continuation of the “America Builds” hearing series, the Highways and Transit Subcommittee held a hearing on April 9th to review the policies and programs within the United States Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Pandemic era restrictions and work-from-home policies led to a decrease in ridership across transit systems nationwide. Congress provided FTA with nearly $70 billion in supplemental funding to cover short-term budget gaps. Shortly after, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law in November 2021 and provided an additional $108.2 billion for public transportation through fiscal year 2026. Despite this investment, ridership today remains lower than pre-pandemic levels. Witnesses also noted that crime has become more rampant on some transit systems, endangering both passengers and transit workers. “The traveling public deserves better and so do the men and women who work around the clock to transport riders safely to their destinations,” said Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC). “Congress must work to hold recipients of federal dollars accountable and ensure that public transportation services are reliable, safe, and maintained to a certain standard.” Additional information about this hearing is available here. America Builds: The Need for a Long-Term Solution for the Highway Trust Fund The Highways and Transit Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in preparation for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. At the April 29th hearing, Members discussed the challenges with the HTF’s current funding mechanism and discussed other funding options. While questioning witnesses, Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC) discussed the iniquity of electric vehicles (EVs) not paying into the HTF. “Despite making up a growing proportion of cars on the road, EVs avoid paying the user fees that other vehicle owners pay in the form of fuel taxes, all while causing way more wear and tear on road surfaces,” said Rep. McDowell. “The cost and frequency of road repairs is increasing, and we must consider ways that all road users can be a part of the solution.” Witnesses agreed that EV users should not get a free ride and need to pay into the HTF. As part of the Committee’s budget reconciliation proposal, T&I voted to require EV users begin paying an annual registration fee – funds that would go into the HTF and being addressing the chronic shortfalls the Trust Fund faces. Additional information about this hearing is available here.
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| Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Roundtable on Combatting Cargo Theft
On April 29th, the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee held a bipartisan roundtable to discuss the impact of the increase in cargo theft and potential solutions. Members spoke directly with stakeholders about the impact that freight theft has on freight rail and trucking operations and the impact on consumers. Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) said in his opening statement, “Thieves target these supply chains in part because they are lucrative. They also do so because the risk of arrest and prosecution is low. Much of our nation’s cargo crosses state lines. Thefts are occurring all along this supply chain. That makes coordinating both prevention and prosecution difficult. Worse, how thieves are obtaining cargo, including by cutting brake lines and sabotaging signals, creates significant hazards for train crews and the public.” Witnesses concurred that the federal government needs to collaborate with the states and supply chain stakeholders to develop more effective responses. More information about the roundtable is available here. |
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| COMMITTEE MARKUP | ||
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Committee Approves Bills to Strengthen Supply Chain, Increase Amtrak and TVA Transparency T&I approved nine pieces of legislation, including bills to strengthen the U.S. supply chain and maritime industry, and to increase transparency and accountability at two government-created corporations, at a markup on April 2nd. Bills introduced by Congressmen Rouzer will strengthen our supply chain, bolster our national security, and limit the potential for Chinese, Russian, North Korean, and Iranian influence at U.S. ports. Rep. Addison McDowell’s (R-NC) bill will strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to confront drug traffickers and to respond to opioid overdoses in USCG operational environments. Legislation by Rep. Nehls and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) will increase transparency at Amtrak and TVA, making more of their meetings and decision-making open to the public. More information about the markup is available here. |
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| STRENGTHENING THE U.S. SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY | ||
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T&I Leaders Commend President Trump for Continued Support of Strengthening American Shipbuilding Capacity Chairman Graves and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) applauded President Trump’s April 9th executive order to strengthen the United States’ shipbuilding industry, enable the nation to be more competitive with China in maritime transportation, and bolster our national security. “Our fleet once accounted for half of the world’s cargo shipping capacity, but it now accounts for less than one percent of tonnage, and capacity for building large oceangoing vessels is dwarfed by China’s. This executive order marks a welcome shift away from decades of decline in our country’s maritime sector and demonstrates President Trump’s commitment to reinvigorating our domestic maritime industrial base,” said Chairman Graves. “A strong domestic shipbuilding industry is essential to our national security, economic independence, and the future of our maritime workforce,” said Rep. Ezell. “This action takes a critical step toward reversing decades of decline, ensuring our shipyards can compete globally and meet the growing needs of both our military and commercial sectors.” Read more about their statement here. |
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| MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT | ||
On April 29th, Chairman Graves officially welcomed Rep. Jimmy Patronis Jr. to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Earlier in April, he was sworn in to the House of Representatives to serve Florida’s 1st district. Prior to joining Congress, Rep. Patronis served as his state’s Chief Financial Officer and is currently the longest serving Chief Financial Officer ever in Florida history. Upon joining T&I, Rep. Patronis said, “America’s roadways, waterways, and infrastructure are essential to our nation’s economy and national security. In Florida, our roadways, bridges, and ports are vital to our state’s economic success and become critical tools during national emergencies, such as mandatory evacuations during hurricanes. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on the T&I Committee and the Trump Administration to secure our border, support our service members in the Coast Guard, and usher in America’s new golden age.” He will serve on the Aviation Subcommittee, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
Rep. Troy E. Nehls represents the 22nd district of Texas and has been a Member of Congress since 2021. He serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Judiciary Committee. At the April 2nd markup, T&I passed legislation introduced by Rep. Nehls which will increase transparency at Amtrak, making more of the passenger rail service’s board meetings and decision-making open to public scrutiny. In addition to promoting transparency in federal transportation agencies, Rep. Nehls has focused on strengthening the nation’s aviation system in his role as Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee. Following the Committee’s approval of its budget reconciliation proposal, Chairman Nehls emphasized the importance of modernizing the air traffic control system: “Folks, our ATC system is antiquated. The need to modernize this system is urgent, and we can’t delay taking action.” |
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IN THE NEWS |
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Rep. McDowell for The Washington Examiner: The US can’t win the fight against fentanyl without the Coast Guard Roll Call: House Transportation advances reconciliation plan; focus on EV fee The Hill: Republican chair unveils $15B plan to modernize air traffic control Action News Now: Congressman LaMalfa applauds passage of legislation to repeal California’s vehicle emissions mandates Land Line: Truckers have paid enough,’ Rep. Collins says |
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