Dear CAGTC Members,
On May 15, the House passed the Heroes Act by a vote of 208-199, mostly along party lines. The comprehensive package, led by House Democrats, would provide an additional $3 trillion in emergency relief funding for the general public, frontline workers, impacted industries, and new programs to combat COVID-19. Earlier that day, in a separate vote, the House also passed a resolution authorizing remote voting by proxy and remote Committee proceedings. The full text of the Heroes Act can be found here, and a section-by-section summary by the House Appropriations Committee here.
Please find below a brief summary of the legislation’s key provisions related to transportation infrastructure:
- In total, the bill provides over $3 trillion in federal relief funding, including:
- $15 billion from the general fund is made available via formula to state departments of transportation, territories and tribes for highway and bridge capital projects, as well as operational and administrative expenses, including salaries.
- $500 billion for state government and $375 billion for local government fiscal relief to cover costs and replace revenue lost as a result of COVID-19. These funds may also be used by departments of transportation to backstop revenue shortfalls.
- $15.75 billion for grants to support operational expenses for transit agencies. Of this amount, $11.75 billion will be distributed by formula. The remaining $4 billion would be available to eligible entities by notice of funding opportunity within 30 days of enactment of the bill.
- $75 million for FAA operations, including additional janitorial services at air traffic control towers and other FAA facilities, hazard and overtime pay, and a study on mitigating pathogens in airplane cabin air.
- $180 billion to establish the “COVID-19 Heroes Fund” providing additional compensation for essential workers, including transportation workers.
- The cost share for any assistance provided under the emergency declaration has been adjusted to 100 percent federal.
- The Heroes Act does not incorporate any surface transportation reauthorization legislation or other significant new infrastructure policies.
Whereas the previous emergency relief bills were bipartisan packages developed as a result of lengthy negotiations between the House, Senate, and Administration, the Heroes Act is considered more of a “wish list” consisting of House Democrat priorities. It is not expected to be taken up by the Senate in its current form, but House Democrats hope it can serve as a starting point of negotiations for an eventual bipartisan, fourth coronavirus response bill.
Thank you,
Cecile
Cecile Entleitner
Manager, Member Communications & Policy
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
1625 K Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
tradecorridors.org
(202) 828-9100