Urge Members of Congress to Fully Fund Public Transit and Passenger Rail
8/7/2025
In July, both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations marked up the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (THUD Appropriations bill).
The House THUD Appropriations bill (H.R. 4522) significantly cuts public transit and passenger rail investment. It cuts public transit investment by $1.7 billion and passenger rail investment by $2.6 billion from FY25 funding levels. The House THUD Appropriations bill passed on a party-line vote of 35-28. View APTA’s Legislative Alert on the House THUD Appropriations bill.
Conversely, the Senate THUD Appropriations bill (S. 2465) increases public transit investment and maintains passenger rail funding.The bill provides $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail. It increases public transit investment by $203.3 million from FY25 funding levels and maintains current passenger rail funding. The Senate THUD Appropriations bill passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 27-1. View APTA’s Legislative Update on the Senate THUD Appropriations bill.
APTA strongly encourages its members to urge their representatives and senators to fully fund public transit and passenger rail in the FY26 THUD Appropriations bill.
Here are four things to do to make a difference:
Join APTA’s Advocacy Campaign
APTA is focusing its advocacy efforts on urging Congress to provide $22.3 billion for public transit and $21 billion for passenger rail. At minimum, the final THUD Appropriations Act should adopt the Senate-proposed funding of $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail.
Congress must reject the House provisions that slash Capital Investment Grants to the lowest level in almost 30 years and cut $2.8 billion from Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants.
To send a pre-written APTA message to your representatives and senators, visit the APTA Advocacy Campaign Action Center.
Host Members of Congress in August
During Congress’ August recess, APTA strongly encourages its members to meet with their Members of Congress and show them first-hand how public transportation investment works for everyone. APTA has prepared a Site Visit Toolkit to help effectively plan, organize, and execute an event with elected officials, including providing sample social media posts for maximum impact.
Public Transit Investment Talking Points.
Passenger Rail Investment Talking Points.
Key Regulatory Streamlining Proposals Talking Points.
Register for APTA’s Legislative Advocacy Fly-In
APTA’s 2025 Legislative Advocacy Fly-In is a day of in-person meetings Oct. 22 to urge Members of Congress to fully fund public transit and passenger rail investments. Industry voices are instrumental as Congress advances the FY26 THUD Appropriations bill, the next Surface Transportation Authorization Act, and other critical legislation. APTA will schedule in-person meetings on your behalf with Members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill on Oct. 22.
The Fly-In is free to all APTA members and is financed by the APTA Business Member Activity Fund.
For questions regarding the Fly-In, contact Jillian Kinder at [email protected].
Register for APTA Legislative Advocacy Fly-In.
Use APTA’s Advocacy Tools
It has never been more important to make the case to Congress for public transportation investment. That is why APTA has created a one-stop shop explaining key advocacy tools, such as the APTA Industry Footprint and My Economic Impact tool, for APTA members to engage with their Members of Congress both on Capitol Hill and in their Congressional Districts and States.
APTA’s Industry Footprint shows how many riders use public transportation; recent major grant awards; and the manufacturing, construction, and engineering firms advancing public transportation projects in each congressional district and state. The My Economic Impact tool uses agency budget data to calculate the economic impact of your transit service.