Hill Heat

Full committee markup.

Interior and Environment Bill (S. 2431) Highlights:

• Department of the Interior: $15.1 billion for supporting management of National Parks, Refuges, and Forests, conservation and energy development on public lands and waters, and tribal trust responsibilities.
• National Park Service: $3.3 billion to support our nation’s parks, preserve historic sites, and sustain staffing capacity to address visitor services and park management needs.
• Indian Affairs (BIA and BIE): $3.9 billion, including support for important public safety and justice services, community and economic development, and probate programs. Contract support costs (CSC) and tribal lease payments are fully funded.
• Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): PILT is fully funded to provide communities in 49 states and in the territories compensation for lost tax revenues resulting from federal land ownership within their jurisdiction.
• Wildland Fire Management: $6.4 billion is included for wildland fire management activities. Nearly $2.9 billion of this funding is made available through the wildfire suppression cap adjustment.
• Environmental Protection Agency: $8.6 billion in grants and program funding, including $2.8 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds.
• U.S. Forest Service: $8.6 billion, which includes $10 million in funding to address Spruce Budworm mitigation activities. The bill also includes an increase of funding for Cooperative Fire Assistance and $6 million in funding to support the Northeastern States Research Cooperative.
• Indian Health Services: $8.1 billion, which includes funding for staffing new facilities and health care delivery services. CSC and tribal lease payments are fully funded and maintains advanced appropriations.
• Smithsonian Institution and the Holocaust Museum: $1.1 billion, including an increase in funding for the Holocaust Museum for expanding educational opportunities.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $207 million for each Endowment.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill (S. 2465) highlights:

• Department of Transportation (DOT): $26.5 billion in discretionary budget authority.
• Office of the Secretary: $1.1 billion, including $250 million for the BUILD grant program and $513.6 million for the Essential Air Service program.
• Federal Aviation Administration: $22 billion, including $13.8 billion for Operations, $4 billion for Facilities and Equipment, $290 million for Research and Development, and $4 billion for Grants-in-Aid for Airports. This funding provides for an additional 2,500 new air traffic controllers and prioritizes investments to modernize outdated systems in our National Airspace.
• Federal Highway Administration: $63.3 billion, including $350 million for a competitive Rural Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation program, $25 million for high priority Tribal transportation projects, and $10 million for the National Scenic Byways Program.
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): $2.9 billion, including $2.4 billion for Amtrak, of which $1.6 billion is for the National Network, as well as $100 million is for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program. Additionally, $4.8 million is provided for FRA’s Close Call Reporting System, as well as funding for railroad trespass prevention and positive train control support.
• Federal Transit Administration: $16.8 billion, including $1.9 billion for the Capital Investment Grants program, $1.1 billion for the bus and bus facilities program, and $55 million for the ferry program, which includes rural ferries.
• Maritime Administration: $874 million, including $75 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $30 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards Grants. The bill also includes a total of $400 million for the Maritime Security Program, Cable Security Fleet, and Tanker Security Program, which are critical to national security. Additionally, $143 million is provided for State Maritime Academies and more than $160 million is provided for the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): $73.3 billion for rental assistance and self-sufficiency support for low-income working families, seniors, and the disabled; housing and services to homeless individuals; and support for economic and community development.
• Office of Public and Indian Housing: $47.4 billion, including $37.4 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance, $8.4 billion for the Public Housing Fund, $211 million for self-sufficiency programs, and $1.4 billion for Native American/Native Hawaiian programs.
• Office of Community Planning and Development: Nearly $11 billion, including $3.1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, $4.5 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $1.2 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, $70 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program, and $30 million for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act recovery housing program.
• Office of Housing: $19 billion, including $17.8 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance, $972 million for Housing for the Elderly, and $265 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
• Independent Agencies: $423.7 million, including $10 million for the Access Board, $40 million for the Federal Maritime Administration, $29.2 million for the Amtrak Inspector General, $145 million for the National Transportation Safety Board, $158 million for NeighborWorks, $40.8 million for the Surface Transportation Board, and $2 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.