New Year, New Federal Landscape
The new year ushers in a season of change in Washington, D.C., and I’m not just referring to the snowfall in the nation’s capital! The 119th Congress was sworn in, and the change in presidential administrations will occur on January 20, 2025 – Inauguration Day. What does this all mean for federal transportation policy and funding?
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 is a five-year bill, meaning Congress needs to reauthorize surface transportation funding in 2026. Longtime Safe Routes champions know that this is our key mechanism for setting policy and securing funding that supports Safe Routes to School, walking, and bicycling. None of the past five surface transportation reauthorization bills passed the year they were supposed to, all were extended, but we are working toward the 2026 deadline.
Because it is a new Congress, we must re-introduce the bills we worked on last Congress, including the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act. Who will we be working with on this and other legislative priorities?
- House: On the House side, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is the primary committee we work with. This committee is led by Sam Graves (R-MO-6) and its ranking member is Rick Larsen (D-WA-2), who has championed the Transportation Alternatives Program in recent years.
- Senate: In the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee has jurisdiction over surface transportation funding and policy. This committee is chaired by Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and the ranking member is Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Other things to keep in mind have to do with the Administration. The IIJA included significant discretionary funding in the form of programs like RAISE, SS4A, Reconnecting Communities, and others. These programs are administered through US DOT, and while subject to what the law directs them to do, the priorities of a presidential administration come through these programs as well. We expect to see changes to what the Trump Administration is seeking in applications to these programs.
The start of a new Congress is an exciting time, especially as we gear up for transportation reauthorization. Follow along for the latest developments and how you can be part of supporting Safe Routes to School, walking, and bicycling.
ICYMI: Your state is getting extra TAP money! How much more is coming to your state to support Safe Routes to School, walking, and bicycling? Find out here.