Transportation – HUD Appropriations Bill Provides for Investment

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) praised the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2010 for its investments in adequate affordable housing and revitalizing our communities, as well as investments in our public transportation that will help modernize our infrastructure and ensure safety of our roadways, railways, and airways. The bill was approved by the full Appropriations Committee and will now be debated by the House, following passage there, the legislation will also need to be voted on by the Senate, approved by both chambers and signed by the President.

"This legislation makes a critical investment in our communities and provides the resources for further economic development and improved transportation infrastructure. With these funds we can ensure that our communities grow in a manner that protects our quality of life," said DeLauro. "I am particularly delighted that the bill addresses the need to create a National Infrastructure Bank. A National Infrastructure bank will allow us to leverage private sector dollars to invest in our most critical transportation, environmental, energy and telecommunications infrastructure needs. We will create jobs and spur economic growth, as well as make the critical investments necessary to build state of the art infrastructure systems for the 21st century."

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill provides $123.1 billion in funding – $53.2 million below the President's request –including $75.8 billion for the Transportation Department– a 13% increase over 2009; and $47billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development – $5.5 billion over 2009.

Notably, DeLauro worked with the Committee on language that addresses the National Infrastructure Bank proposal. Earlier this year DeLauro introduced the National Infrastructure Bank Development Act with strong, diverse support, which would fund and create a bank to direct public and private dollars toward infrastructure projects to supplement current federal programs, ultimately creating jobs, spurring economic growth and rebuilding an infrastructure system for the 21st century. While the appropriations bill, notes the infrastructure bank is not authorized, it recognizes the need for a new direction in Federal infrastructure investment, and believes that an infrastructure bank could serve as a potential financing mechanism for a wide range of infrastructure projects, including, within the realm of transportation. Therefore, the bill includes language to allow the Secretary of Transportation to transfer $2 billion, as is allocated in the budget resolution, to capitalize a national infrastructure bank should an infrastructure bank be authorized.

Other critical funding in the bill includes:

Investments in Affordable Housing Programs o Section 8 Tenant-based rental assistance: 18.0 billion– $1 billion above 2009 – to renew all vouchers currently in use and provide 10,000 vouchers for homeless veterans;

o Housing for the Elderly: $1 billion – $235 million above 2009 in order to spur construction of affordable units for seniors;

o Housing for the Disabled: $350 million – $100 million above 2009 – to construct units for persons with disabilities;

o Homeless Assistance Grants: $1.85 billion to provide permanent and transitional housing for homeless families and individuals. HUD recently reported that family homeless rates increased 9% between 2007 and 2008; and

o HOPE VI: $250 million – $130 million over 2009 – for grants to rehabilitate severely distressed public housing.

Foreclosure Prevention: With the foreclosure crisis continuing to impact families, the bill provides $63.8 million for NeighborWorks America to continue its successful foreclosure counseling program.

Investments in Sustainable Housing & Livable Communities o The Energy Innovation Fund: $50 million to increase the utilization of FHA's energy efficient mortgages and to develop a strategy for incorporating green building standards into public and assisted housing;

o The Sustainable Communities Initiative: $150 million for a partnership with the Transportation Department to encourage coordination in housing and transportation planning;

o Brownfields Redevelopment: $25 million – $15 million over 2009 – to return previously contaminated sites to productive use.

Federal Highways, Public Transit & Road Safety o Federal Highway Administration: $41.1 billion – a one percent increase over 2009;

o Public transportation programs: $10.5 billion;

o National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: $1.48 billion – $20.1 million above 2009

Passenger & Commuter Rail Investments o High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail: $4 billion – $3 billion above the President's request – to help meet the impressive demand generated by the Recovery Act. Within this amount, $2 billion may be transferred to a national infrastructure bank if it is authorized;

o Amtrak: $1.5 billion to continue and expand intercity and long distance passenger rail service;

o Rail Line Relocation and Improvement program: $40 million – $15 million above 2009 – to rehabilitate freight and passenger rail lines.

Investments in Aviation: $16 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration's operations, capital, research and airport grant programs, which includes increases of $17 million for 180 additional safety inspectors and $13 million to accelerate the FAA's research on alternative fuels. The fiscal year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill included funding for the following initiatives in the 3rd District:

Department of Transportation

Ansonia Riverwalk, $800,000: to complete the Ansonia Riverwalk connecting the downtown to the Westerly Riverwalk on the banks of the Naugatuck River and to provide for the final link connecting the Ansonia and Derby Riverwalk at Division Street.

Route 8 Corridor Transit Oriented Development & Alternate Modes Study, $300,000: to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing Transit Oriented Development Districts and Alternate Transit Modes for the Route 8 Corridor between the Lower Naugatuck Valley and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Waterbury Intermodal Transportation Center, $500,000: to develop preliminary plans for the creation of a multi-modal transportation center within the central business district of the City of Waterbury. The transportation center with house commuter rail service, local and regional bus service, taxi service and shuttle services in addition to commuter travel and tourism and activities.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Soundview Family YMCA, $400,000: to construct child care facilities, the outdoor education and day camping facilities (pavilion, playing fields, etc.), complete wetland replication and remediation work, refurbish existing walking and nature trails and other site work related to the community center.

Phase III Downtown Revitalization in East Haven, $500,000: for Phase III of the project to improve the Downtown area in order to enhance the business environment in the town and attract small businesses.