August 7, 2025
Excerpted from APTA: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Urge-Congress-to-Fully-Fund-Public-Transit-and-Passenger-Rail.html?soid=1127252305719&aid=5h2u1RjpdWM
**URGENT ACTION NEEDED**
In July, both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations marked up the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (THUD Appropriations bill).
The House THUD Appropriations bill (H.R. 4522) significantly cuts public transit and passenger rail investment. It cuts public transit investment by $1.7 billion and passenger rail investment by $2.6 billion from FY 2025 funding levels. The House THUD Appropriations bill passed on a party-line vote of 35-28. View APTA’s Legislative Alert on the House THUD Appropriations bill.
Conversely, the Senate THUD Appropriations bill (S. 2465) increases public transit investment and maintains passenger rail funding. The bill provides $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail. It increases public transit investment by $203.3 million from FY 2025 funding levels and maintains current passenger rail funding. The Senate THUD Appropriations bill passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 27-1. View APTA’s Legislative Update on the Senate THUD Appropriations bill.
Here are [two] things you can do to make a difference:
Join APTA’s Advocacy Campaign Now
We ask you to join APTA’s email advocacy campaign now. APTA is focusing its advocacy efforts on urging Congress to provide $22.3 billion for public transit and $21 billion for passenger rail. At minimum, the final THUD Appropriations Act should adopt the Senate-proposed funding of $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail.
Congress must reject the House provisions that slash Capital Investment Grants to the lowest level in almost 30 years and cut $2.8 billion from Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants.
To send a pre-written APTA message to your Representatives and Senators, visit the APTA Advocacy Campaign Action Center.
Use APTA’s Advocacy Tools
It has never been more important to make the case to Congress for public transportation investment. That is why we have created a one-stop shop explaining key advocacy tools, such as our APTA Industry Footprint and My Economic Impact tool, for APTA members to engage with their Members of Congress both on Capitol Hill and in their Congressional Districts and States.
APTA’s Industry Footprint is a great tool to share with Members of Congress to show how many riders utilize public transportation; recent major grant awards; and the manufacturing, construction, and engineering firms advancing public transportation projects in each Congressional District and State. The My Economic Impact tool uses your public transit agency’s budget data to calculate the economic impact of your transit service.