“By spending more efficiently and prioritizing more effectively, this legislation will promote innovation in all of our nation’s transportation systems.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) voted today to invest in infrastructure for Eastern Washington. The House passed H.R. 2577, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act of 2016, which prioritizes spending for transportation as well as housing programs to assist our most vulnerable.

“Today I voted to pave the way forward for a 21^st-Century approach to America’s transportation and infrastructure system,” McMorris Rodgers said. “By spending more efficiently and prioritizing more effectively, this legislation will promote innovation in all of our nation’s transportation systems. We addressed critical safety issues and eliminated waste, fraud, and abuse that has existed in these agencies for far too long.”

“By acting now, Federal and State agencies have time to plan for 2016 within the guidelines we have established—it is essential to representative government that Congress—not the bureaucrats—set these spending priorities,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said.

This bill provides appropriate funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It also provides funding for transportation programs like the TIGER grant program, which has been used successfully to build roads in Eastern Washington.

“Our roads must be safe and well maintained; it is crucial for our economy and our Eastern Washington way of life,” McMorris Rodgers said.

McMorris Rodgers continues to advocate for important Eastern Washington transportation projects, like the North Spokane Corridor and Highway 12 in Walla Walla.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations provide for the basic building blocks of our society. Under the House bill, funding will continue for the Community Development Block Grant formula program, which is important to Eastern Washington, and is funded at the same level as last year.

Additionally, the bill provides $461 million for Housing for the Elderly, an increase of $41 million over fiscal year 2015, and $152 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities, an increase of $17 million above the fiscal year 2015.