Congress Advances Transportation, Housing Spending Bill

Senate Floor

On May 18, the Senate passed, 89-8, H.R. 2577, the FY2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Related Agencies spending bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the bill on April 21 (see The Source, 4/22/16).

The bill is expected to become the vehicle for a “minibus” spending bill that also will contain the FY2017 Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 2806, the FY2017 Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill on April 14 (see The Source, 4/15/16).

As amended, the bill contains $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus. The House approved H.R. 5243, the Zika Response Appropriations Act, on May 18 by a vote of 241-184. The stand-alone measure would allocate $622 million for Zika response.

House Subcommittee

On May 18, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, its version of the FY2017 spending bill (H.R. 2577).

According to the committee summary, the bill would provide $58.2 billion in discretionary funding for FY2017. This amount is $889 million over FY2016, but $4.9 billion below President Obama’s budget request for FY2017.

The measure would allocate $38.7 billion for HUD. This represents an increase of $384 million over FY2016, but is $953 million below the administration’s request.

Additional information will be made available once the committee releases its report.

The following chart summarizes funding for programs important to women and their families.