Hinds Today

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a FY2025 transportation infrastructure and housing funding measure, which U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) helped develop as the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.

The FY2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Bill includes funding for transportation and community development projects in Mississippi. The bill was approved with a 28-1 vote and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

“The FY2025 THUD Appropriations bill is a fiscally-responsible and thoughtfully-crafted bill that remains responsive to critical transportation, housing, and community development needs of the country. We’ve worked to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars without sacrificing transportation safety or critical rental assistance programs,” Hyde-Smith stated.

Hyde-Smith emphasized that while adhering to budgetary constraints, the committee-approved package recommends funding to support airports, roads, bridges, ports, as well as housing for seniors, the disabled, and working families. The bill also reflects bipartisan support for programs like the Community Development Block Grant program aimed at promoting economic development and job creation.

For Mississippi specifically, Hyde-Smith collaborated with her colleagues to back programs beneficial to communities across the state. “This bill outlines specific funding to help communities and programs in Mississippi that can help improve the quality of life for our citizens. There are many needs in Mississippi and I’ve worked to see that this bill will responsibly help meet those needs,” she said. “I’m pleased the bill supports surface, air, and rail transportation projects across the state, as well as housing, workforce development, and community improvement work. There are more steps in the legislative process to go, but this is a good step forward for Mississippi.”

Mississippi communities are expected to benefit from continued funding for priority programs including RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity), the Competitive Rural Bridge repair program, Port Infrastructure Development Program grants for small shipyards, Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Grants, and the National Scenic Byways Program.

The FY2025 THUD Appropriations Bill was one of four bills receiving committee approval on Thursday. Overall, seven of the 12 annual appropriations bills have been approved by the committee so far. The final five FY2025 funding bills are scheduled for consideration on Thursday, Aug. 1.

All Senate bills are being drafted in compliance with statutory caps on discretionary funding established under the recently-enacted Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.