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Cole Applauds Passage of Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill

March 6, 2024
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the THUD Appropriations Act passed the House, as a part of a six-bill appropriations package:

“As Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations subcommittee, I have diligently worked and negotiated with my colleagues over the past year to secure critical Republican wins in this bill, like promoting economic growth, ensuring the safety of our transportation systems, and limiting the Biden Administration’s excessive regulatory agenda, while at the same time cutting back spending on programs that have been recklessly over-funded in recent years,” said Congressman Cole. “This legislation is a huge win for the American people, and I am very happy to see the THUD appropriations package pass the House floor today.”

Key Provisions in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act

  • Cuts $3.234 billion from the FY23 enacted levels across 19 DOT and HUD grant programs that have been recklessly overfunded by Democrats in recent years.
  • Rejects the Biden Administration’s request for additional programs and initiatives totaling nearly $2.641 billion.
  • Provides essential funding to the FAA to make our airspace safer and more secure, as well as mitigate flight delays.
  • Secures support for the DOT’s rail and highway safety programs, which are essential to reducing roadway accidents and train derailments.
  • Maintains housing assistance for America’s most vulnerable citizens, like the elderly, disabled, and our veterans.
  • Limits the Biden Administration’s regulatory agenda.
  • Supports HUD’s homeless assistance programs, including important initiatives to provide shelter to victims of domestic violence and homeless youth.
  • Prohibits funds from being used to require inward-facing cameras or the enforcement of the electronic logging device rule with respect to carriers transporting livestock or insects.

Congressman Cole Priorities and Oklahoma Provisions in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act

  • $12.730 billion to fully fund air traffic control operations and allow the FAA to hire 1,800 air traffic controllers to replace the retiring workforce.
  • $3.191 billion for facilities and equipment, which is $246 million above the FY23 enacted level.
  • Fully funds the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, including $19 million for additional training facilities and $6 million for the development of vertiports at the center.
  • Support for the Tribal Transportation program, including an additional $150 million in discretionary appropriations.
  • Historic gains in traditionally underfunded Native American housing and transportation programs.
  • $75 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development Indian Community Development Block Grant.
  • $1.111 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Indian Housing Block Grant formula program.
  • $1.5 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Indian Housing Loan Guarantee fund, to support $1.8 billion in guaranteed loans.
  • $1 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Title VI loan guarantee program, to support $50 million in loan guarantees.
  • $7.5 million for Tribal HUD-VASH vouchers.
  • $10 million for Counter-UAS research, development, testing, and evaluation.

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Issues:TransportationTribal Relations