Congressman David Trone Calls Republicans’ THUD Funding Bill a Trainwreck
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2023
Congressman David Trone Calls Republicans’ THUD Funding Bill a Trainwreck
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman David Trone (D-MD), member of the House Committee on Appropriations, released the following statement condemning Republicans’ funding cuts in advance of the House’s consideration 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 House 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 in which our grandchildren can grow up and grow old. 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.”
Background:
Extreme House Republicans’ Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill makes traveling less safe, ignores low-income families living in hazardous conditions, and threatens to shutter our economy. The legislation:
- Pulls $564 million in federal funding from the ‘‘Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes” would put children and families at risk. This cut would mean:
- Approximately 33,000 homes of low-income families will not have their homes made lead-safe, resulting in approximately 46,000 children continuing to be exposed to lead-based paint hazards.
- Approximately 49,000 homes of low-income families with children under age six using housing choice vouchers will not have their homes assessed for lead-based paint hazards, resulting in approximately 69,000 children continuing to reside in homes that may have lead-based paint hazards.
- Further harms our environment by prohibiting the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule aimed at encouraging states to establish carbon dioxide reduction targets.
- Cuts $25 billion from the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to ensure that the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Budget, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders.
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