Hearing of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Lowey, Markup of the FY 2021 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Funding Bill

Hearing

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee's markup of its fiscal year 2021 bill:

Thank you, Chairman Price and Ranking Member Diaz-Balart, 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 focuses on improving access to housing, protecting the traveling public, revitalizing our infrastructure, and investing in our communities' economic health to help end 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 foundational to every aspect of our lives, yet access to affordable, decent housing was already out of reach for millions before COVID-19 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 Tenant-based Rental Assistance and Homeless Assistance Grants, while blocking the Trump Administration's 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 nation's infrastructure and in the day-to-day lives of our constituents.

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