#Funding

Ideas Floated To Improve TIFIA Loan Program

As the Trump administration continues to work on its promised $1-trillion infrastructure investment plan, it is expected to recommend increasing funds for the long-standing federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides low-interest loans to help finance a range of transportation projects. TIFIA loan recipients testifying at a recent Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the program said the loans have been

Elaine Chao boosts Trump plan for revamping transportation

The Republican and wife of GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke to a lunch crowd Friday at the Brown Hotel in Louisville organized by Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce. She altered her prepared remarks on recent initiatives at the agency to mention that McConnell was expected back in Kentucky — but his flight was delayed. Chao delivered a rundown on Trump's plans to sharply cut the federal government's funding for rebuilding bridges, roads, an

LAW: House panel approves transportation funding cuts

A House panel approved legislation on Tuesday evening that would cut funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) by over half a billion dollars. The House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development advanced a spending bill to provide $17.8 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. DOT in the fiscal year 2018. That figure is $646 million less than current levels—a 3.7% decrease—but is $1.5 billion more than what President

AASHTO Calls for ‘Simpler, More Reliable’ USDOT Process to Spur Use of TIFIA Project Loans

The group that represents state departments of transportation wants to see the USDOT increase the federal share of financing projects under TIFIA, the department's main infrastructure loan program, and "develop a simpler, faster and more reliable application process." The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials made the comments in written testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for a July 12 hearing on TIFIA and innov

Special Session Proclamation For Sunset Legislation

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: WHEREAS, the legislature adjourned its 85th regular session without extending the existence of the Texas Medical Board, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and WHEREAS, without legislative action, these five agencies will be abolished

Office of the Texas Governor: Supplemental Call

NOTICE: This document is an unsigned working draft. It is being released for informational and discussion purposes only. It is subject to change. It has no legal effect. TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, FIRST CALLED SESSION: WHEREAS, the people of Texas have placed the constitutional power to call the legislature into special sessions in the hands of the governor; and WHEREAS, the members of the 85th Legislature, first called s

U.S. Department of Transportation Launches Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Progr

WASHINGTON - The Department of Transportation (DOT) is announcing the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the Federal Register today. The INFRA program will make approximately $1.5 billion available to projects that are in line with the Administration’s principles to help rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure — a priority for this Administration. In addition to providing direct feder

GOP chairman: Trump’s infrastructure plan may slip to next year

Congressional work on President Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure package may slip to next year, a Republican chairman said Thursday. Lawmakers are facing a pile of other priorities, while the White House has yet to unveil formal legislative text for its massive rebuilding proposal. “They’re supposedly going to submit some sort of plan in the fall, so we’ll see,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, told reporters. “We’re

CBO: Debt ceiling will be hit in October

The Congressional Budget Office on Thursday projected that the U.S. Treasury would “most likely” run out of cash in early to mid-October unless Congress raises the debt ceiling. The exact timing is unclear, the CBO said in a new report, as unpredictable swings in revenues and outlays may deplete funds more quickly or slowly than projected. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has urged Congress to lift the debt limit before its August recess, though he has said that the nation c

Abbott plots aggressive approach to special session

Gov. Greg Abbott is plotting an aggressive approach to the upcoming special session of the Legislature, diverting from his above-the-fray style to try to see through an ambitious 20-item agenda. The push came into public view Thursday, when Abbott's office began announcing lawmakers who will take the lead on individual items — state Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, and state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, intend to author legislation cracking down on mail-in bal

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