House Appropriations Committee Republicans last week released the draft fiscal year 2026 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies funding bill. The BLET is keeping a close eye on the proceedings as the proposed legislation provides funding for key rail-related agencies that are important to BLET members, including Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Surface Transportation Board. The bill also provides funding for federal railroad grant programs like the Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP) and Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI).
While the legislation funds Amtrak and the CRISI program close to the levels requested by President Trump, it does so by transferring funds from the FSP rail grants program that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA) appropriated funds for. It transfers approximately $2.8 billion ($2.3 billion for Amtrak and $500 million for CRISI) from the IIJA rail title to pay for this year’s normal rail appropriations title. This is highly unusual and would take away vital funds that are needed to improve our passenger rail infrastructure and expand passenger rail service throughout the United States.
Additionally, the proposed legislation prohibits any funding for three high-speed rail programs that BLET has supported: the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the Texas high-speed rail program; and the Northern Lights Express Intercity Passenger Rail Project in Minnesota.
More information to come as the House debates the bill. For further reading, a House Republican summary of the bill can be found here (PDF).