Transportation Bill Brings Major Wins for the Marianas
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday approved H.R. 8870, the BUILD America 250 (Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th) Act. During the Committee markup, I secured several major priorities for the Marianas in the bipartisan five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, which invests in America’s roads, bridges, transit systems, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety.
Key victories for the Marianas include:
- Annual Territorial Highway Program funding shared among the territories will increase from $49.8 million today to $56 million by FY2031, with yearly increases of $1.2 million
- A Government Accountability Office study to review how Territorial Highway Program funding is distributed among the territories. The current formula was created by the Federal Highway Administration in 1992 and has never been updated
- An increase in Federal Transit Administration funding for the CNMI from $1.6 million annually to $9.8 million annually — an increase of more than 500%
- Eligibility for the CNMI to receive Federal Transit Administration planning grants
- Creation of a $25 million competitive rural and insular ferry program for rural communities and the four territories. Previous ferry funding was only available to jurisdictions with existing ferry operations
The BUILD America 250 Act now advances to the House floor for consideration. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to enact this legislation into law and strengthen highways, public transit, and future ferry transportation opportunities throughout the Marianas.