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House Panel Slated to Debate FY27 Transportation Bill
Measure Includes $200M for Truck Parking
Key Takeaways:
- A House panel is scheduled June 3 to consider fiscal 2027 transportation funding legislation that includes $200 million for truck parking programs.
- The bill would provide $92.2 billion in discretionary transportation and housing funding, including $926.6 million for FMCSA.
- The Senate has not scheduled its version, while trucking groups praised the parking funds and Democrats criticized broader cuts.
WASHINGTON — A House panel is scheduled to consider fiscal 2027 transportation funding legislation on June 3 that includes $200 million for truck parking programs nationwide.
The proposal is part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which was approved by a subcommittee before the Memorial Day recess and would fund the Department of Transportation through the next fiscal year.
Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-Ark.) said the measure emphasizes transportation safety across highways, railroads and aviation while also funding federal housing programs.
“The bill prioritizes transportation safety — on our railroads, highways and in our skies — and ensures a responsible safety net with housing support for our most vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly, the disabled, veterans and the working poor,” Womack explained.
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Womack and Cole
Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said the legislation is intended to strengthen national connectivity and reinforce transportation safety for both the traveling public and freight carriers.
Under the bill, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would receive $926.6 million in fiscal 2027 funding. Total budgetary resources would include $64.5 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, $3 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration, $1.4 billion for the Maritime Administration and $1.2 billion for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Overall, the measure would provide $92.2 billion in discretionary funding for transportation and housing programs.
Democrats on the committee criticized the Republican-led bill, arguing it falls short of addressing affordability and mobility concerns.
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DeLauro and Clyburn
Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said the proposal cuts investments in housing and transportation, including Amtrak, while failing to ease cost pressures on Americans. As she put it, “Republicans’ 2027 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill misses the reality that Americans just want relief from skyrocketing prices. It strips away critical investments in housing and community development while cutting Amtrak and other critical transportation resources, putting more commuters on the road and adding more delays getting to work or school.”
Transportation subcommittee ranking member James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said the bill does not fully reflect national priorities, citing ongoing challenges related to accessibility and affordability.
The Senate has yet to schedule consideration of its version of the fiscal 2027 transportation funding bill. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently defended the White House’s budget request on Capitol Hill, saying it is intended to modernize transportation systems and strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
“As we approach America’s 250th birthday, we have the opportunity to deliver a legacy of investment and innovation that honors our past and secures our future,” the secretary told senators May 19. “This budget carries out the president’s agenda to rebuild the nation’s transportation systems, restore American competitiveness and strengthen the country we all love.”
Several industry groups welcomed the truck parking funding included in the House bill.
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American Trucking Associations praised the $200 million allocation, noting that it has long urged Congress to increase federal investment in truck parking infrastructure. A lack of available truck parking has consistently ranked among the trucking industry’s top concerns in surveys conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.
“The severe parking shortage means that truck drivers are forced to waste a significant portion of their day searching for a safe place to pull over, putting enormous strain on them and the supply chain, and creating serious safety risks on our roads,” ATA President Chris Spear said May 21.
Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton credited Womack for supporting truck parking initiatives, noting the role trucking plays in interstate commerce and employment in the state.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed funding legislation that also provided $200 million for truck parking projects. The Federal Highway Administration is overseeing those funds, which are aimed at improving safety and efficiency along freight corridors.
