Whitfield Supports Responsible Federal Funding for Transportation and Housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 10, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted last night in support ofH.R. 2577, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016. The measure passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 216 to 210. Whitfield released the following statement upon passage.

“Congress must demand accountable spending and make responsible reductions in the federal budget. This legislation accomplishes those objectives while ensuring important programs at the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development are appropriately funded. In addition to the substance of this legislation, I was pleased to see it was considered under an open rule, allowing any Member to come to the floor and offer an amendment. I believe the best bills are produced through free and open debate, and this was a step in the right direction.”

The passage of H.R. 2577 followed the passage of last week’s H.R. 2578, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016 that Whitfield also supported. Congress has moved swiftly over the past several months to pass five of the twelve annual appropriations bills with Department of Defense funding slated to receive floor time later this week.

Background:

H.R. 2577, the FY 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, provides $55.3 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies, a $9.7 billion decrease from the President’s budget request. The Department of Transportation oversees interstate highways, aviation, railways, and other transit and infrastructure-related activities. The Department on Housing and Urban Development works to create strong communities and increase the availability of affordable housing.