Prior to leaving for a two-week recess, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a package containing funding for federal programs impacting highway and transit as well as drinking water and waste water construction projects, among other things. House and Senate leaders intend to finalize funding for these programs and send a bill to the president for signature prior to the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
Of particular note to AGC members, the bill would provide significant increases in funding for federal highway and transit programs. Highway formula funding would see a jump of 7.4 percent over FAST Act levels and transit capital grants would be increased by 10.8 percent. The bill directs $800 million of the highway formula money to a rural bridge program that was first created in the fiscal year 2018 funding bill. In addition, the bill allocates more funding for the Build (TIGER) grant program and the Airport Improvement Program.
The bill would also increase funding for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the total of which is set at $2.86 billion. Additionally, the bill would provide $63 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and $50 million for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant program. Lastly, the bill would allocate level funding for the Rural Utilities Service, Water and Waste Disposal Program of $1.25 billion.
For more information, contact Brian Deery at deeryb@agc.org or (703) 837-5319.