HYDE-SMITH WELCOMES SENATE PASSAGE OF TRANSPORTATION, HUD FUNDING BILL
As Ranking Republican, Hyde-Smith Will Serve on Conference Panel to Finalize Bill with Benefits for Mississippi
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today approved legislation that U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) helped write to fund transportation, housing, and community development projects benefitting Mississippi and the nation.
The Senate passed the FY2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Bill (HR.4366) as part of a package of three FY2024 funding bills. As the ranking Republican on the Senate THUD Appropriations Subcommittee, Hyde-Smith will serve on a conference committee to finalize this measure with House counterparts.
“Overall, I’m pleased to have the Senate approve the Transportation and HUD appropriations bill. It is the product of a bipartisan effort that fits within the budgetary guidelines set when this process started,” Hyde-Smith said. “I look forward to the conference with the House and getting a bill to the President.”
In addition to addressing programs of national interest, Hyde-Smith also worked to support programs and policies of specific interest to Mississippi, including report language that will help Mississippi airports with runway capacity constraints.
“I’ve worked to ensure that we responsibly address some of the many needs in Mississippi in this bill. We’re recommending resources for a variety of transportation and infrastructure projects, as well as workforce and community development activities,” Hyde-Smith said. “Senate passage is a very good step toward making these resources available where they’re needed in our state.”
In June, Congress enacted the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which imposed caps on discretionary funding and made other changes affecting spending and revenues. According to the Congressional Budget Office, these limitations set on discretionary spending, which today’s Senate-passed appropriations measure adheres to, would reduce the budget deficit by roughly $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.
Hyde-Smith reported that actual spending levels in the FY2024 THUD Appropriations Bill remain flat with the exception of funding for some rental assistance and to create 1,800 air traffic controller positions. The bill provides resources to modernize outdated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) legacy systems, such as the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system that went offline, shutting down airspace for several hours earlier this year.
The following are among Mississippi items of interest that Hyde-Smith worked to include in the FY2024 THUD Appropriations Bill:
Transportation
- Monroe County Airport Runway Extension - $1,500,000
- Cleveland Municipal Airport Improvements - $1,800,000
- Jackson County US 90 - $3,100,000
- MS 19 Neshoba County - $3,100,000
- Ripley Bypass - $3,100,000
- US Highway 25 Pedestrian Overpass - $5,000,000
- MS 2 Connector - $3,100,000
- Port of Rosedale Multimodal Expansion/Railroad Restoration - $8,175,000
- Federal Maritime Administration - $100 million for the Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program, which promotes the growth and modernization of the U.S. merchant marine and U.S. shipyards.
Housing and Urban Development
- Youth Opportunity Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast - $3,000,000
- Eudora Welty Library Recovery Project, Jackson - $3,750,000
- Workforce Training Facility, East Central Community College - $1,250,000
- WIN Job Center Renovation, Hinds Community College - $4,000,000
- Roof Replacement Project, Hope Village for Children, Inc., Meridian - $600,000
The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the FY24 THUD Appropriations Bill on July 20. The House Appropriations Committee also approved its version of the THUD Appropriations Bill in July, but it has not yet been considered by the full House.
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