The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has issued a call to action, urging leaders in both the Senate and House of Representatives to promptly pass the fiscal year 2024 transportation appropriations bills. In a letter sent on September 21, AASHTO emphasized the critical need for quick action to ensure the continuity of essential transportation funding.

The letter from AASHTO stressed the importance of passing a full-year Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill. The association suggests that this would prevent potential funding disruptions caused by lapses in appropriations or continuing resolutions (CRs) that could hinder ongoing national transportation system investments.

 

The House Committee on Appropriations has already approved a FY 2024 THUD funding bill, albeit with a reduction in year-over-year funding. The bill provides slightly over $90.2 billion in discretionary funding, approximately 8.7 percent below the Biden Administration's budget request.

In contrast, the Senate Committee on Appropriations passed its own FY 2024 THUD funding bill, which allocates more than $98.9 billion in total discretionary funding. AASHTO has underscored the need for Congress to reach an agreement on the full-year THUD bill and expedite its delivery.

According to the AASHTO, the potential disruptions caused by funding lapses or short-term CRs could impede state departments of transportation from translating Congressional mandates and IIJA funding into tangible surface transportation programs and projects. Moreover, such interruptions can hinder states and local governments' strategic investments of IIJA dollars throughout the entire federal fiscal year.

https://aashtojournal.transportation.org/aashto-urges-passage-of-transportation-funding-bills/