August 16, 2024

Week in Review

As Congress turns to the August District Work Period, I want to take this opportunity to go further in depth on an issue important to Third District Arkansans. Read below!

Taking Care of AR-3’s Transportation and Housing Needs

In April, had the distinct privilege of becoming the Chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee—the subcommittee with the most direct impact on Arkansas’ Third District. The bill this subcommittee produces funds the most critical missions at the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. It prioritizes highway, railway, and aviation safety and maintains housing assistance for the most vulnerable Americans while meeting our responsibility to get spending under control. From our roads, bridges, highways, and skies, the Fiscal Year 2025 THUD Appropriations bill delivers for Americans, and particularly Arkansans.

The funding for highways and bridges is directly allocated to state departments of transportation, such as ArDOT, enabling state and local governments to collaborate on the highest priority road projects. In my commitment to transportation safety, one priority I made sure to address in this year’s bill was access to truck parking. Trucking represents 1 in 10 jobs in Arkansas. I consistently hear from drivers that the severe shortage of truck parking places an enormous burden on them. That’s why I included $200 million dedicated to expanding the availability of truck parking to help alleviate stress on truck drivers, move freight more efficiently, and make roadways throughout Arkansas and the country safer for all.

In addition to the targeted investments into our highway infrastructure and safety, I am proud of the investments this bill makes in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce and air traffic modernization. Thanks to the funding I provide in this bill, the FAA will be able to train 2,000 new controllers to backfill the retiring workforce and deploy air traffic controllers to understaffed facilities. This bill not only bolsters the aviation workforce, but also ensures that every time you get on a plane, you will arrive at your destination in the safest and most efficient way possible by providing $256 million for the contract tower program.

Not only does this bill provide transformational investment into our nation’s transportation and housing systems, but it also provides funding for community projects. No one knows what their city and state need better than those living there. That’s why, since 2021, we have allowed members of the House and Senate to request funding for specific projects within their district. This allows for direct investment into local communities and state-wide entities that otherwise would not be able to fund these projects. In the House bill alone, Arkansas received over $138 million for projects across the state. This funding will go toward projects such as road improvements, expanding water lines so folks can access clean drinking water, airport rehabilitation, construction of a food bank, and so much more. I believe we best serve our constituents by making targeted investments that create jobs and improve quality of life, and funding for community projects is a prime example of how we do that.

We still have our work cut out for us to get this bill across the finish line. First, we must vote to pass it on the House floor, then it will have to pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President. However, I am confident Congress can come together and get the job done for our nation’s most important transportation and housing systems.

From the front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District