The Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously approved the Transportation budget that was recommended by the subcommittee chaired by Sen. Susan Collins. The bill provides increased funding for several key programs, including $1 billion for BUILD grants – a new acronym for TIGER grants.
“This is the transportation program that Maine has been very successful in competing for funds under,” says Collins.
The legislation also provides over $49 billion for highway and bridge improvements, and additional funding for the program that subsidizes commercial air service to small communities.
Collins says the bill does not reflect President Trump’s call for a new infrastructure initiative.
“That really hasn’t happened and I think one reason it hasn’t is the president’s plan relies too much on the promise that somehow private investment entities such as private equity firms, would invest in infrastructure.”
The bill now goes to the full senate.
