House Proposes Increased FY2023 Transportation Spending

What happened: The House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee June 23 advanced a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 spending bill that meets funding levels outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for highways and public transportation programs. The legislation would also provide $3.45 billion in supplemental investment beyond IIJA funding levels for highway, public transit, airport and multi-modal capital project. Roughly half of the $3.45 billion would go to congressionally-directed earmarks. Even though the proposed supplemental investment for highway programs is lower than FY 2022’s spending law, overall FY 2023 funding highways would grow by $602 million.

Why it matters: While the IIJA sets recommended core highway and transit spending, Congress still needs to formally approve spending for these programs each year through annual appropriations.

What’s next: The full House Appropriations Committee is slated to consider the bill June 30. Action taken by the House began early enough that a full transportation spending bill could be signed into law this year. The FY 2022 law was delayed almost six months, which in turn held up full implementation of the IIJA and full distribution of highway formula funds to state departments of transportation. FY 2022 funding expires Sept. 30. ARTBA will continue to advocate for full funding at IIJA authorized levels for core highway and public transportation programs as well as additional supplemental resources. See ARTBA’s June 23 letter of support for the House bill. A list of congressionally-directed earmarks will be shared once released by the committee.