19 July 2023- Congressman David Trone (D-MD), member of the House Committee on Appropriations, released the following statement condemning Republicans’ funding cuts during the full Committee’s markup of the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill:
“It’s no question that this bill makes our communities less safe. This year, because there’s a ‘D’ next to my name on Election Day, my Community Project Funding requests were cut in half – an unfair and punitive measure by Republicans that will hurt every constituent in my district – Democrat or Republican.
“Not only are extreme Republicans slashing vital community funding and gutting critical climate action programs, but they are also jeopardizing the health of hundreds of thousands of America’s children by cutting programs to remove lead paint from their homes.
“And while House Republicans proudly cut ribbons at projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – which only 13 House Republicans voted for last Congress – this legislation claws back its funding by eliminating public transportation and freight rail safety programs that help hardworking folks get to work on time and grocery store shelves to be stocked.
“This legislation underinvests in American infrastructure – the very railways and highways that helped build this nation. This legislation falls short of our duty to take action against climate change and leave a world that our grandchildren can grow up and grow old in. Lastly, this legislation fails to grasp a fundamental responsibility of government: to take care of its citizens today and look out for the generations of tomorrow.”
