Steve Womack (R-AR)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 172.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill makes appropriations for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, along with related agencies, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. It provides funding for various offices within the Department of Transportation, including the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration. The legislation also allocates funds for research, technology, and infrastructure-related activities such as drone inspection and railroad rehabilitation. Additionally, it outlines specific funding for the Federal Aviation Administration's operations and the Federal Transit Administration's transit grants. For the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the bill covers executive, administrative, and program offices. Finally, it includes significant funding for tenant-based rental assistance and public housing activities.
Yes· 3 of 29
- Scored +7
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill provides specialized funding for supportive housing and services for people with disabilities.
- Scored +7
Is this likely to reduce homelessness?
The bill provides billions of dollars for the continuum of care and emergency solutions grants.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The bill allocates $74.6 million specifically for cyber security initiatives and infrastructure upgrades.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill rescinds various unobligated balances from HUD programs including Public Housing, Choice Neighborhoods, and Lead Hazard Control.
- Scored -3
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill prohibits using funds to update energy efficiency standards for new housing financed by HUD.
- Scored -2
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill ties federal funding to local jurisdictions' cooperation with DHS regarding the release of illegal aliens in local custody.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Drone Infrastructure Inspection: $10,000,000 is set aside for the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Program to support infrastructure through drone technology (Section: Research and Technology).
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Cyber Security: $74,600,000 is provided for cyber security initiatives, including upgrading network and information technology infrastructure and protecting data (Section: Cyber security initiatives).
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Air Traffic and Aviation Safety: Significant funds are allocated for aviation safety activities ($1,861,039,000) and air traffic organization activities ($10,368,000,008) to support the aviation industry (Section: Federal Aviation Administration - Operations).
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Infrastructure and Safety Research: Funding is provided for research, engineering, and development of national airspace systems, as well as behavioral research on automated driving systems (Sections: FAA - Facilities and Equipment; and NHTSA - Operations and Research).
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Rental Assistance: Substantial funding is directed toward the renewal of expiring section 8 tenant-based annual contributions contracts to provide housing assistance (Section: Public and Indian Housing - Tenant-Based Rental Assistance).
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Transit Benefits: The bill authorizes the establishment of uniform standards for supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits (Section: General Provisions - Department of Transportation, Sec. 189).
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Prevention of Rental Assistance Termination: The Secretary is directed to use offsets to prevent the termination of rental assistance for families due to insufficient funding (Paragraph 1).
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Support for Displaced Families: Funds are available for the relocation and replacement of housing units when they are demolished or disposed of, or for the relocation of witnesses to combat crime (Paragraph s 2).
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Assistance for High-Risk Tenants: Up to $5,000,000 may be used to provide tenant protection assistance to residents in low vacancy areas who may face rent increases exceeding 30 percent of their income due to loan maturities or contract expirations (Paragraph 2).
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Support for Veterans: Funds are allocated for Tribal HUD-VASH to serve Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (Paragraph 5).
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Youth Foster Care Support: The "First Lady Melania Trump Youth Foster to Independence Initiative" provides up to $30,000,000 in new incremental voucher assistance for eligible youth (Paragraph 6).
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Safety and Security in Public Housing: $30,000,000 is available for emergency capital needs, with at least $10,000,000 specifically for safety and security measures (Public Housing Fund, Paragraph 4).
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Economic Independence: The bill funds the family self-sufficiency program to help eligible families achieve economic independence (Self-sufficiency Programs, Paragraph 1).
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Native American Housing Support: Significant funds are provided for Native American housing block grants and competitive grants to support construction and rehabilitation (Native American Programs, Paragraphs 1 and 2).
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Protection for Survivors of Violence: The continuum of care program includes incentives to renew projects that assist survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (Homeless Assistance Grants, Paragraph 2).
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Lead Hazard Reduction: Funding is provided for the award of grants to reduce lead-based paint hazards and for the healthy homes initiative (Lead Hazard Reduction, Paragraphs 1 and 2).
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Infrastructure Improvements: Several amendments change project descriptions to focus on essential services like "Sewer Improvements" (Section (b)(2) of the 2024 table) or "Security Upgrades at NYCHA's Soundview Houses" (Section (c)(9)).
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Housing Support: The bill amends various projects to focus on housing, such as changing a project to "Acquisition for Affordable Housing for Veterans" (Section (b)(3)) and "Skid Row Permanent Supportive Housing Rehabilitation" (Section (b)(6)).
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Community Facility Upgrades: Provisions include changes for "Facility Upgrades" (Section (b)(9)) and "Pawtucket Library Renovations" (Section (b)(2)) which may benefit local communities.
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Protections Against Automated Enforcement: The bill prohibits using funds to purchase, install, maintain, or operate automated traffic enforcement cameras for red-light, speed, or stop sign enforcement (Section 427).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Commercial Motor Vehicle Equipment: Funds may not be used to require vehicles over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed limiting devices (Section: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Sec. 133).
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Limitations on Training and Career Programs: The bill states that funds shall not be available for new applicants for the second career training program within the Federal Aviation Administration (Section: Federal Aviation Administration - Operations).
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Restrictions on Driver Privacy/Tracking: The bill prevents the use of funds to implement limitations on the ability of private aircraft owners to block their aircraft registration or flight identification from public tracking (Section: Federal Aviation Administration, Sec. 116).
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Employment Restrictions: Funds cannot be used for the salaries and expenses of more than 125 political and Presidential appointees within the Department of Transportation (Section: General Provisions - Department of Transportation, Sec. 183).
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Union Station Funding Constraints: The bill directs that improvements to Washington Union Station rely on the private sector with a minimum requirement for Federal assistance (Section: Federal Railroad Administration, Sec. 154).
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Financial Offsets for Agencies: The Secretary may perform a statutory offset of public housing agencies' 2026 allocations based on their net restricted assets (Paragraph 1).
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Potential Reductions in Agency Funding: The Secretary has the authority to decrease amounts allocated to agencies by a uniform percentage if administrative funds are insufficient (Administrative and other expenses of public housing agencies, Paragraph s 3).
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Restrictions on Certain Assistance: Under section 210, assistance under section 8 cannot be provided to individuals who are students, under 24 years of age, unmarried, or without a dependent child, among other specific criteria (Section 210).
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Restrictions on Using Funds for Certain Projects: Funds cannot be used for the acquisition of new commercial space, as the project list was amended to focus on renovation (Section 424).
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Restrictions on Energy Standards: The Secretary is prohibited from using funds to update minimum energy efficiency standards for new housing financed by the Department (Section 237).
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Reduced Housing Units: One amendment reduces the number of affordable housing properties from 4 to 3 in Seattle, King County, WA (Section (c)(8)).
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Changes to Community Focus: Some amendments shift the scope of projects, such as changing "Helping Up Mission Permanent Housing on East Baltimore Street" to "Greenspace Development in Baltimore" (Section (b)(11)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides specialized funding for supportive housing and services for people with disabilities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill allocates significant funds for Native American housing block grants and community development. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill includes specific funding for housing for the elderly and senior preservation. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides significant funding for housing for the elderly and supportive services. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill provides specific voucher assistance for eligible youth. Would children be better off under this? — Funding for the Youth Foster to Independence Initiative and youth homeless services benefits children. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to reserve funds for projects in rural areas and supports rural capacity building. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Funding for community development and housing assistance supports various urban areas. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Funding for community development and housing assistance supports various urban areas. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Funding for community development and housing assistance supports various urban areas. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Funding for community development and housing assistance supports many urban areas. Would students be better off under this? — The bill maintains housing assistance eligibility considerations for students. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill funds HUD-VASH to serve Native American veterans, but also alters some community project funding related to veterans. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides significant rental assistance but also rescinds funds intended for public housing and community development. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increased transit benefits and infrastructure investments provide general utility, though some housing funds are reduced. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill funds urban community development but rescinds significant unspent funds from urban-focused HUD programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The bill provides billions of dollars for the continuum of care and emergency solutions grants. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill provides significant funding for Native American housing programs and assistance. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill provides massive funding for rental assistance and public housing, though it also rescinds significant funds from various HUD assistance programs. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill provides funding for the Access Board to support disability-related functions. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Investments in self-sufficiency and rental assistance are partially offset by the rescission of unobligated community development funds. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill ties federal funding to local jurisdictions' cooperation with DHS regarding the release of illegal aliens in local custody.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — Massive funding is allocated for federal-aid highways and infrastructure improvements. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds lead-based paint hazard reduction and healthy homes initiatives. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill provides significant transit funding, though it also contains amendments that limit certain transit projects. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill prohibits using funds to update energy efficiency standards for new housing financed by HUD.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill allocates $74.6 million specifically for cyber security initiatives and infrastructure upgrades.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Funding is provided for research and technology related to housing, aviation safety, and drone technology.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that certain consulting service expenditures and meeting schedules must be public record. Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — The bill includes restrictions on the use of funds for certain types of public communications and training. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill imposes new requirements on local jurisdictions regarding cooperation with federal immigration notifications.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Significant investments in transportation infrastructure and the Economic Development Initiative are intended to stimulate economic activity. Is this likely to create jobs? — Funding for aviation, transit, and infrastructure projects supports various sectors of the economy. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill rescinds various unobligated balances from HUD programs including Public Housing, Choice Neighborhoods, and Lead Hazard Control.
- 7/21/2025
- The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-212, by Mr. Womack.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 172.
- Bill introduced.
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.