Udall Secures Funding for Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, Veteran Housing, Technology to Reduce DUIs in Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Funding Bill

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 19 September 2019 19 September 2019

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M) joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in advancing the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) funding bill that makes critical investments in transportation and housing programs to support New Mexico families, rural and Native communities. The bill sets the Fiscal Year 2020 budgets for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and now heads to the full Senate.

“This bill funds key priorities for New Mexico, including making smart investments in technology to reduce DUI accidents and protecting funding for Amtrak’s Southwest Chief route. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll keep fighting to support infrastructure that strengthens the economy and links communities across our state, including rural areas that benefit from federal investment,” said Udall. “I am also proud that this bill supports housing programs for veterans and Native communities across the state to ensure greater access to the stable, affordable housing they deserve.”

Overall, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) funding bill approves $25.3 billion for the DOT and $48.6 billion in programmatic funding for HUD, rejecting the president’s proposed cuts.

Highlights of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) funding bill include:

Transportation: The bill includes $86.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY2020, an increase of $167 million from FY2019.  The funding included is prioritized for programs that improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the transportation system.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – The bill fully funds Essential Air Service, important for rural communities in New Mexico, and includes $3.8 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – The bill supports FAST Act authorized funding levels for all contract authority programs, including Tribal Transportation for Tribes in New Mexico and across Indian Country

Federal Transit Association (FTA) – The bill includes 1.198 billion for Buses and Bus Facilities Grant a $71 million increase from FY 2019.

National Highway Traffics Safety Administration (HTSA) – The bill includes $5.4 million to continue development of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) technology and an additional $4 million in general funds to reduce impaired driving – a portion of which must be used for field testing DADDS technology. Federal Railroad Administration – The bill includes $2 billion, a $58.4 million increase from FY 2019 for Amtrak. $1.32 billion is for the National Network, a $28.4 million increase from FY2019. The bill also includes report language prohibiting Amtrak from eliminating, reducing service or substantially altering service on the Southwest Chief route.

Housing: The bill includes a net funding level of $48.6 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion from FY2019 for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Native American Housing programs – The bill includes $820 million in total for Native American Housing programs.

  • $646 million for the Native American Housing Block Grant program
  • $100 million for a competitive needs-based housing grant program
  • $65 million for Indian Community Development Block Grants
  • $7 million for Training and Technical Assistance
  • $6 million for the Title VI Loan program

Tenant Based Rental Assistance – The bill includes $23.83 billion for Tenant Based Rental Assistance, a $1.235 billion increase from FY 2019

  • $40 million for HUD/VASH, a program serving homeless or at-risk veterans.
  • $1 million for Tribal HUD/VASH, a program serving homeless or at risk Native American veterans.

Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) – The bill includes $54 million, equal to FY19

  • Section 4 - $35 million
  • Rural Capacity Building - $5 million
  • SHOP - $10 million

Homeless Assistance Grants – The bill includes $2.76 billion, a $125 million increase from FY2019

  • $80 million for youth homeless demo
  • $50 million for rapid rehousing for survivors of domestic violence
  • $280 million for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) – $330 million

HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) – The bill includes $1.25 billion to implement local housing strategies designed to increase homeownership and affordable housing opportunities for low and very low-income Americans.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.