Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

Summary of HR 9170 (119th Congress) – Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

• Purpose and scope
  • HR 9170 proposes appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and related agencies for Fiscal Year 2027 (through September 30, 2027), plus related program authorities and policy provisions.
  • The bill covers operating budgets, program authorizations, loan/credit authorities, grant programs, and various administrative provisions for the agencies named.

Key Provisions by Topic

• Department of Transportation – Office of the Secretary

  • Provides $218.142 million for the Secretary’s Salaries and Expenses, with detailed allocations to subordinate offices (e.g., Deputy Secretary, General Counsel, Under Secretary for Policy, etc.).
  • Specific impositions:
  • Reprogramming approval required for certain authorities (e.g., section 118(g)(2)-(3) authorities) with oversight by House/Senate Appropriations Committees.
  • Transfers among purpose-specific subaccounts allowed but limited (7% aggregate change).
  • Funds may be used for official reception/representation up to certain limits; up to $2.5 million in fees may be credited to the appropriation.

• Research and Technology

  • $48.5 million for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, with $30 million remaining available until expended.
  • Targeted funding for complementary PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) demonstrations, drone infrastructure inspection grants (authorized under Public Law 118–63), system reliability and resilience investments for inland waterways, and research on transportation resilience, nuclear technology, automation, and advanced bridge technologies.
  • Programmatic direction to allocate funds through designated university centers, with geographic and field-specific constraints.

• National Infrastructure Investments

  • $550 million for local/regional project assistance grants (section 6702, title 49 U.S.C.), with:
  • $350 million for areas of high growth (top 40 metros by 2020–2025 growth, per Census data).
  • $200 million based on specific selection criteria under sections 6702(d)(3)-(d)(4), with constraints on rural vs urban distribution (not more than 50% urbanized, not less than 5% to historically disadvantaged communities).
  • Grants subject to a $50 million maximum per project; prioritization for projects leveraging Federal funds in an overall financing package.
  • Transfers may be made to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and Maritime Administration to fund grant/credit programs.
  • Funding derived from unobligated balances of prior appropriations (Public Law 117–58 and related acts) and treated as specified under Public Law 118–5.

• National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau

  • $5 million to support the Bureau, including authority to collect and spend fees to underwrite/ service Federal credit instruments; fees are in addition to other amounts and not subject to standard obligation limitations.

• Rural and Tribal Infrastructure Advancement

  • $5 million to carry out rural and Tribal infrastructure advancement (P.L. 117–58 authority), with cooperative agreements for technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to State/local/Tribal governments and other entities.

• DC Safe and Beautiful

  • $100 million for District of Columbia safety/beautification aims, including:
  • $30 million for a grant to WMATA for transit safety/ security and major events, administered by FTA.
  • $70 million for a grant to Union Station Redevelopment Corporation for rehabilitation/repair of the Washington Union Station complex, administered by FRA.
  • Transfers may be made to FTA and FRA; funds to be derived from unobligated balances from prior Federal Railroad Administration programs.

• FAA Operations and Related Programs

  • Large funding package for FAA, including:
  • $14.165 billion (with $13.5916 billion from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund) for FAA operations, maintenance, space transportation, space operations, and related activities through 2028.
  • Sub-allocations for:
    • Office of Aviation Safety Management, Safety Oversight, Air Traffic Organization, Airspace Modernization, Advanced Aviation Technologies, Commercial Space Transportation, and more.
    • Specific programs: contract towers and cost-share program; internship programs; human intervention motivation studies; flight attendant drug/alcohol program.
  • Restrictions and reporting:
  • FAA must report quarterly on fees collected under certain authorities.
  • Prohibitions on creating or expanding new aviation user fees without justification to Congress; limits on reorganizations affecting staffing; and limits on political appointee counts (no more than nine for certain positions).
  • Various transparency requirements, including budget and staffing plans, and spend plans for modernization efforts.
  • Governance and oversight:
  • Numerous sections limiting certain regulatory actions without congressional notification and requiring independent audits for specific grant reimbursements related to airport closures.

• FAA Facilities, Equipment, and Research

  • FAA Facilities and Equipment: $4 billion (with $3 billion from the Trust Fund and $1 billion from unobligated balances), including guidance on investment plans for 2028–2032 and rollover provisions.
  • FAA Research, Engineering, and Development: $230 million (Trust Fund-derived) with transferability constraints (not more than 10% transfer between projects without triggering reprogramming rules).

• Grants-In-Aid for Airports (Liquidation and Additional Funding)

  • Grants-in-Aid for Airports: $4 billion for liquidation/obligations related to planning, development, noise programs, and related activities, with specific allocations for mandatory administration, airfield technologies, and airport research.
  • Additional authorization of $269.86 million for Grants-In-Aid for Airports (General Fund) with stripped formulas for discretionary community project funding, and specific earmarks for PFAS-related programs, advanced air mobility pilot programs, and other authorized initiatives.

• Administrative Provisions – DOT

  • Several sections on meeting notices, reprogramming, working capital fund reporting, and expedited notification requirements for credit programs.
  • Provisions to ensure funds are used in line with Congressional oversight and to prevent unauthorized transfers or commitments.

Who and What is Affected

• Federal agencies: DOT (Secretary, FAA, FHWA, FTA, FRA, Maritime Administration, etc.), HUD, and related agencies receive funding and specific program authorizations.
• Transportation sectors: Highways, transit, rail, aviation, airports, maritime, and related infrastructure programs.
• Local governments, tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and private partners may access grants and funding mechanisms for infrastructure projects.
• District of Columbia and major regional transit authorities (e.g., WMATA) receive targeted funding for safety, security, and restoration/improvement projects.
• Universities and research institutions may participate in targeted research and resilience programs through designated university transportation centers and D&I initiatives.
• Aviation industry: FAA operations, safety, air traffic control modernization, contract towers, and aviation safety programs are heavily funded with oversight and reporting requirements.

Timelines and Procedural Notes

• Annual appropriations for FY 2027 (fiscal year ending September 30, 2027).
• Certain authorizations and transfers require pre-approval or notification:
  • Reprogramming approvals from House/Senate Appropriations if funding changes exceed specified thresholds.
  • Mandatory quarterly reporting and annual spend plans for FAA modernization and workforce planning.
• Budgetary controls:
  • Cap on Working Capital Fund transfers and competitive servicing requirements.
  • Transfers between programs subject to percentage limits (generally not exceeding 7% total change unless authorized).
  • Funds derived from unobligated balances of prior appropriations, with treatment under Public Law 118–5.
• Reporting commitments:
  • FAA Administrator must provide spend plans and staffing/hiring strategies within defined timeframes (e.g., within 60 days after budget submission, and quarterly thereafter for FAA modernization activities).

Note: This summary focuses on substantive content and potential impacts based on the bill text provided. For policy interpretations, legislative history, and fiscal effects, consult the fiscal notes, committee reports, and statutory cross-references accompanying HR 9170.