Many liberals think obama didnt do enough. He was given an emergency opportunity and should have pushed harder for a bigger stimulus to repair the country. So House Appropriations subcommittee is going to review 2021 spending levels for transportation and housing and urban Development Department as well as other related agencies. No changes are expected before sending it to the full committee, but we do expect statements from members. Good morning, everyone. Subcommittee will come to order. I certainly appreciate everyones flexibility and good humor, as we gather around under these socially distanced circumstances. The covid pandemic has certainly made for some unique challenges, but it hasnt deterred us from conducting our critical appropriations work on behalf of the american people. So im proud to unveil this fiscal 2021 transportation, housing, and urban development and related agencies appropriations bill. I want to briefly mention some of the bills highlights, but i want to first thank Ranking Member diaz bbalalt for his collaboration, we have been on the phone a great bit and collaborated as we always do in getting this bill together. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the process as a former chairman of this subcommittee, and its been, as always, a pleasure working with him and his staff. I want to thank full Committee Chairwoman nia lowey for her steady leadership and support. Same for our Ranking Member, kay granger, and all of the members of the subcommittee. We have a great subcommittee. Great hearings, good input from all around, and fortunately, we have been able to garner ideas from across the full membership of the subcommittee and accommodate most of them. That goes for member requests in general. By our calculation, we have accommodated more than 90 of member requests. Democratic and republican. So we hope we can continue to move forward in a bipartisan fashion. Want to recognize our excellent professional staff, majority clerk joe carlisle has done a terrific job. His expertise is simply invaluable. He benefits from a great team, gladys, winnie chang, joe eckert, sarah, angela, and becky. Were lucky to have doug as our minority clerk along with his colleague, alyssa. Also want to thank Shaun Maxwell from my personal staff, chris reed from mr. Diazs personal office, very hard working group. And we thank you for making the best of the circumstances and bringing all this together. This years bill represents a renewed commitment to improve safety, produce more Affordable Housing, upgrade our aging transportation infrastructure, and bolster our nations resiliency to a changing climate. At the same time as covid continues to sweep across our country, we insure that vulnerable populations, homeless youth, veterans, communities of color, Domestic Violence survivors, the elderly, people with disability, remain at the forefront of our efforts. The bill includes 75. 9 billion in discretionary funding. Its 16. 7 billion above the president s request. Were grateful for our healthy allocati allocation, which combined with 3 billion in offsetting receipts, allows us to make significant progress for our Nations Housing and transportation infrastructure. Separately, the bill also includes major increases in Contract Authority, for formula programs that draw resources from the Highway Trust Fund rather than direct appropriations. Those amounts are 14. 7 billion for highways, 5. 8 billion for transit compared to last years level. Thats consistent with the invest in america act, which passed the house as part of hr2 on july 1st. When you total up both discretionary and Contract Authority resources, you get in the fiscal 21 bill 158. 3 billion in combined budgetary resources for transportation, for hud and related agencies under our jurisdiction. Thats an increase of 22. 7 billion compared oo the current fiscal year. The departments and programs funded are integral to our way of life. Housing and transportation connects us to jobs, services, education. Without efficient and equitable transportation networks, our economy cannot thrive. Without Affordable Housing, our nations greatest asset, its people, cannot thrive. An appropriations bill, of course, isnt going to create a more just society all by itself, but that ought to be our goal. Our goal should be to take decisive steps in that direction, and i believe thats what this bill does. On the housing side of the ledger, we provide increasing of 100 million for cdbg, 350 million increase for home to help spur community revitalization. The home funding alone translates to more than 40,000 Additional Units of Affordable Housing and will generate jobs and Economic Activity across the country. In this bill, we fully renew all housing choice vouchers to keep people stably housed. We provide 250 million for new vouchers targeted to Homeless Individuals or people at risk of homelessness. We increase the homeless assistance grants by 638 million or about 23 over last years level. Thats the largest increase in that account in over a decade. The bill also includes an 11 increase for the Public Housing capital fund and new set asides within that fund to address Urgent Health and safety issues. The bill also does right by transportation. All modes receive robust funding including highways, transit, rail, aviation, bike and pedestrian projects and ports. The heavily oversubscribed build program, receives 1 billion. Thats equal to last year. Amtrak is funded at more than 2 billion. And the popular chrissy program for passenger and freight rail improvements is funded at 500 million. Thats an increase of more than 50 over last year. And that is a quite deliberate increase. We provide sufficient resources for fdas Capital Investment grants to make sure all projects in the pipeline can move forward and provide nearly half a billion for discretionary grants for buses, bus facilities, no to low emissions facility for aging fleets. We renew our emphasis on safety activities at faa and imparities in light of the 737 Max Disasters and across d. O. T. By providing targeted funds to bolster certification activities bolster enforcement and hire skilled personnel. Safety must always remain our top priority at the faa and across the transportation modes. There are many more highlights, but ill stop there for now. These investments will improve the quality of lives. However, our nation is in a different circumstance than those surrounding past bills. Were facing an infrastructure crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic. That term is not hyperbole. So accordingly, under the leadership of chairwoman lowey, we have also included an emergency title in this years thud bill. That provides an additional 75 billion in major Infrastructure Investments across housing and transportation programs. Investments that will repair highways and greenways, upgrade aging transit and rail systems, accelerate improvement at our ports and shipyards. Build new runways, jumpstart Affordable Housing production, and further reduce the disgraceful Public Housing capital backlog. Some may object to the cost or think its inappropriate to designate it as emergency spending but i would like to ask, whats the cost of inaction . Given the circumstances, the challenges we face . Infrastructure week shouldnt be a punch line. Its almost become that. We have to get serious about this. Especially given the circumstances we face and the fiscal 21 thud bill is an opportunity to prove that we are serious, that congress is serious about addressing this issue, particularly as we contemplate the transition from pandemic to full recoverey. Every day our constituents see the consequences of inadequate investment in our housing and transportation infrastructure. Natural disasters are increasing in severity, a number exacerbated by accelerating climate change. Meanwhile, covid19 is ravaging communities, revealing and deepening existing disparities while leaving state and local governments with fewer resources and more responsibility to respond in the absence of steady leadership from the white house. This bill does its part to meet these challenges head on. Again, i want to thank Ranking Member diazbalart whose partnership and cooperation will continue to be essential as we move this bill forward. I want to thank all colleagues on the subcommittee from both sides of the aisle. We have worked together thus far and we need to Work Together going forward. Im sure we will, to enact this legislation into law. As is customary on this subcommittee, i ask that all members hold any amendments until we meet again at full committee. And i would like to yield to my colleague, our Ranking Member, mr. Diazbalart. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman, for first representing this bill to our subcommittee this morning. I do want to take the opportunity to mention, again, two people you already have mentioned. Thats this full committee is led by frankly two of the most honorable, formidable, distinguished members of the house. Chairman lowey, who has spent a lifetime serving our country and who will be severely missed when she is no longer in congress. And again, kay granger from the great state of texas. Who will be back and who has been an amazing friend and leader and again, cannot thank you for your leadership and friendship enough. Mr. Chairman, you have crafted a bill, by the way, and obviously, you mentioned staff, mr. Chairman. None of us could do our job without our personal staff and the Committee Staff and this committee has amazing staff, and were indebted to them. You have crafted a bill, mr. Chairman, that thoughtfully addresses many of the transportation and housing needs. You have gone out of your way to include the vast majority of requests from members of the committee. Regardless of republican or democrat. And once again, you have included policies, programs, and oversight measures that i am convinced will improve the way that agencies in this bill serve our constituents. Thats what its all about. I would like to especially thank you for including the 300 million for ports, infrastructure grants, which is not just important for coastal states, california and florida, but also to our nations entire freight network. The bill also includes 389 million for the Maritime Academy training ship program. Which will provide a training ship in texas. By fully funding the ship, i want you to know the chairman chose the right policy to bring this new Training Vessel into Service Without delay. He had to make some tough decisions to get that done. Im pleased that the bill continues investments in our nations highways, rail, transit, and Airport Infrastructure. You mentioned that yourself. These programs were built on progress that has been made in recent years through this bill, creating jobs and obviously spurring innovation. It provides housing to all households that currently serve. Those of us who worked on this bill over the years understand this was a serious commitment. A commitment that is not always easy to meet. This year, these programs required about 2 billion additional funding just to keep pace with inflation. 2 billion. But its our duty to meet these commitments, especially for our elderly, the disabled, and our veterans, our heroes. I also applaud the chairman for including initiatives to address homelessness in america, including families at risk of becoming homeless. And we know the situation that so many are facing right now. Victims of Domestic Violence and veterans. Again, the chairman has done, i think, a tremendous job, and not only has he done a tremendous job. He mentioned in the beginning that we have been in touch. He has been accessible. Hes been open. Mr. Chairman, for that, again, and for the friendship and the trust, i am grateful. I am grateful for the friendship we developed over the years and the trust we developed over the years. But here comes the but. While i strongly support most components of the base bill, again, a good bill that the chairman has put together, a responsible bill, a thoughtful bill. There are parts of the bill that make it difficult for me to support it at this time. The bill includes, as the chairman mentioned, 75 billion in emergency infrastructure spending. This is nearly equal to all, all of the discretionary funding in the base bill. So basically, hes doubling the size of the entire bill. This spending is outside of last years bipartisan budget agreement, and puts our entire, i think, appropriations, the regular appropriations process at risk. The top line allocations for the base bill is also based on a gimmick. If it wasnt bad enough were doubling the size of the bill with frankly very little discussion if any, its based on a gimmick. Let me explain to you why. The majority chose to take a portion of the milicon v. A. Bill off budget to make room for more spending. Finally, the bill includes some controversial d. O. T. And hud riders. These were dropped last year consistent with the budget agreement. I think they should be dropped again, obviously, so we dont get stuck in unnecessary political disputes, putting this great bill, this thoughtful bill except for these issues i mentioned, in jeopardy. In spite of these concerns, i want to thank the chairman. Im truly impresseds as to the mark that you have put forward. Theres so many aspects of this bill that are frankly really important and very positive. And heres the good news. Im totally confident well be able to work through our differences and reach an agreement on this bill as we move through the process. Thats what the process is all about. So finally, again, mr. Price, i want to thank you for the collaborative approach and for your friendship. And for your trust. I am lucky to be able to work with the chairman and with this chairman, i look forward to hard, difficult work ahead in front of us. Again, we dont have a lot of time, so we can complete this bill and make sure that we get it to the president s desk by september 30th. Im confident that we will. Thank you, mr. Chairman, and with that i yield back. Thank you very much. I appreciate your kind words and your cooperative approach, as always. Now turn to the full committee chairman, ms. Lowey. We have had a series of love fests for ms. Lowey over these threedays as successive subcommittees have marked up. I would add to that that we value her leadership very, very greatly, especially in these tough times. We value it, and we, of course, are very much aware of her pending retirement, but were not done yet. We certainly are not done yet, and im sure shell have some important words to say about our bill, and so im happy to yield to her. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. We have been friends, colleagues, for a very long time. But ill save some remarks for another day. But its been a pleasure for me to work with you and all of my colleagues. I thank you for your kind words. Well, thank you, chairman price and Ranking Member diazbalart for your work on this bill. I also thank the incredible staff for their efforts. In an unprecedented year of challenges, the fiscal year 2021 transportation, housing, and urban Development Bill focused on improving access to housing, protecting the traveling public, revitalizing our infrastructure, and investing in our communitys Economic Health to help intergenerational poverty. This bill would fund safety upgrades on our roads and rails as well as research to improve safety technologies. It would also provide significant funding for the gateway project, one of the most important transportation projects in our country that will advance commuter safety for millions and the economy for the entire nation. Housing is the foundation to every aspect of our lives. Yet access to affordable, decent housing was already out of reach for millions before covid19 compounded this reality. This bill includes 3. 5 billion for Community Development block grants, which the president s budget request sought to eliminate. It also provides increases to tenantbased rental assistance and homeless assistance grants while blocking the trump administrations cruel policies that target mixed immigration status families and transgender members of our communities. I urge support of this bill that would make vast improvements to our nations infrastructure and in the daytoday lives of our constituents. Thank you, and i yield back. Thank you. Ill yield to the Ranking Member of our full committee, our friend kay granger. Thank you very much. Thank you, chairman price for presenting the transportation, housing, and urban Development Bill today. I would also like to thank my friend mario diazbalart, the programs in this bill reach into all of our communities, creating more Economic Opportunity and improving the quality of life for the american people. This bill continues key transportation infrastructure and safety programs, including highway transit and port funding, very important to our economy. The funding provided for Airport Infrastructure and air traffic modernization will be critical for the Aviation Industry as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. I thank chairman price for working with Ranking Member diazbalart to include many of the priorities of members on our side of the aisle. Unfortunately, theres some p provisions in the bill that would prevent me from supporting it. It is not consistent with the twoyear budget deal signed into law last august. The bill includes an additional 1. 6 billion over fiscal year 2020 because a portion of the military instruction and Veterans Affairs bill has been declared an emergency simply to make room for more spending in this and other bills. The budget agreement last summer was built on an understanding there would not be controversial policy riders. This bill violates the spirit of that agreement. Language is included that prevents the department of transportation from reallocating funds from the failed california highspeed rail project as well as language that would strip regulatory authorities from the department of housing and urban development. Finally, this bill includes 75 billion, billion in new emergency spending, including components of the infrastructure bill that was pushed through the house last week without republican involvement. I didnt support that bill because it was a departure from years of bipartisan work on transportation and infrastructure priorities, and i cannot support this additional spending until theres a serious discussion with members on our side of the aisle. The best way to advance housing and transportation opportunities for all of our constituents and get funds distributed in a timely manner is to Work Together. The programs in this bill are too important to be delayed bipartisan politics. I hope we can address these problems as this bill moves through the appropriations process. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank you. Any other members who have a statement . Ms. Clark. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I just briefly want to thank you and the Ranking Member, and of course, our chairwoman for this investment when we need it the most. And just two highlights out of a really great bill, and of course, i want to thank the staff. But the funding for homelessness with an emphasis on Domestic Violence survivors is literally going to be a lifeline for them, and back at home in massachusetts, we appreciate the funding for the 13a vouchers that is going to protect so many of our elders from being evicted during this crisis. So again, thank you for a great bill. Thank you. Any other statements . Do we have any amendments that members wish to offer . If not, ill recognize mr. Quigley for a motion. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Again, to all involved for your great work on the bill. I move that the bill be favorably reported to the full committee. You have heard the gentlemans motion. All in favor say aye. All in favor opposed, no. The ayes have it and the motion is agreed to. I ask unanimous consent the staff be allowed to make technical and conforming changes to the bill on report. Without objection, so ordered. Seeing no further business, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you. We now return to American History tv programming. Coming up, a look at the lives of betty ford and rosalynn carter. Cspan in cooperation with the White House Historical association produced a series on the first ladies. First ladies, influence and image, features a look at the public and private lives of first ladies over 44 administrations. Youre watching American History tv on cspan3. American history tv on cspan3, exploring the people and events that tell the american story, every weekend. Coming up this weekend, saturday at 2 00 p. M. Eastern on oral histories, an interview with civil rights activist courtland cox, covering his time attending howard university. His involvement in the student nonviolent coordinating committee, and serving the secretarygeneral of the 1974 pan african congress. On sunday at 4 00 p. M. Eastern on reel america, the 1963 nbc news report, the American Revolution of 63, a program on the status of the civil rights movement, with protests from albany, georgia, birmingham, alaba alabama, cambridge, and inglewood, new jersey, chicago, and brooklyn. At 7 00 p. M. , a discussion on congress, political parties, and polarization, with historians edward ayers and Joann Freeman and norman ornstein, and at 8 00 p. M. On the presidency, author andrew cohen talks about his book two days in june, john f. Kennedy and the 48 hours that made history about two days, june 10th and 11th, 1963, that defined jfks response to the Nuclear Arms Race and sicivil rights. Exploring the american story. Watch American History tv this weekend on cspan3. Ladylike does not require why should my husbands job or yours prevent