T&I Committee Approves Budget Reconciliation Proposal
On Wednesday, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved its budget reconciliation proposal that provides investments to support the U.S. Coast Guard’s missions to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the country and bolster our national security, and to replace the nation’s air traffic control technology. I voted to appropriate more than $21 billion to the Coast Guard for investing in assets like Offshore Patrol and Fast Response Cutters which give our Coasties the tools they need to better protect our borders and interdict illegal drugs and migrants. The reconciliation proposal also appropriates $12.5 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the modernization of Air Traffic Controller (ATC) technology, including investments in modernizing the ATC system, replacing our outdated ATC technology, and enhancing the hiring of air traffic controllers following several aviation tragedies in recent months. The proposal, which now goes to the House Budget Committee, will also provide a net reduction of more than $10 billion to our nation’s deficit.