The House Appropriations Committee today released the fiscal year 2012 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation includes funding for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other related agencies.
In total, the bill includes $55.15 billion in discretionary spending -- a reduction of $19.8 billion below the President's request and $217 million below last year's level. The funding level in this bill reflects the overall fiscal year 2012 discretionary spending total of $1.043 billion to which the House, Senate, and White House agreed in the recent debt ceiling legislation.
"Step by step, we are trimming government spending and streamlining programs to make them more cost-effective, efficient, and responsive to the American people. This bill saves taxpayers billions of dollars and eliminates waste wherever possible. And it reflects responsible decisions to ensure that the transportation and housing programs Americans rely on can remain in place for years to come without putting our nation even further in debt," House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.
Subcommittee Chairman Tom Latham added, "This bill establishes a realistic approach to funding these programs by building on a foundation of fiscal responsibility. The American people rightfully expect leaders to put people before politics and progress before partisanship to change the way Washington works and the work that Washington does to restore the confidence in the American Dream and our economy. We recognize that responsibility with a bill that focuses on a continued commitment to reducing the size, cost, waste and scope of the federal government."
http://yoder.house.gov/press-release/appropriations-committee-releases-fy2012-transportation-housing-and-urban-development
