House Approps Committee Republican Leaders Unveil Full-Year CR

In advance of the March 14 deadline for government funding, House Appropriations Committee Republican Leaders released “H.R. ____, the “Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025”. In general, the full-year Continuing Resolution (CR) funds government programs, including programs of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act, through Sept. 30 at the same levels as FY24.

The CR, together with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) advance appropriations, provides $20.9 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail in FY25. Under the bill, total public transit investment increases less than one percent and total passenger rail funding decreases less than one percent. The bill eliminates all funding that was designated for earmarks in the FY24 THUD Appropriations Act.

House and Senate Appropriations Committee Democratic Leaders are expected to oppose the bill and may propose a short-term CR to allow bipartisan negotiations on government funding to continue. Congress must complete action on a CR by March 14 or the federal government, including several USDOT agencies, will shut down.

APTA urges Congress to ensure continued operations of the federal government and provide full funding for public transit and passenger rail in FY25.

The CR and IIJA also provide $3.8 billion for Capital Investment Grants (CIG), equal to the FY24 enacted level. Currently, communities are requesting more than $38.7 billion of CIG funds in FY25 and subsequent years to construct 58 projects in 25 states. View APTA’s CIG Project Pipeline Dashboard.

The bill retains important policy provisions enacted in the FY24 THUD Appropriations Act. First, it blocks the Rostenkowski Test, preventing a possible across-the-board cut of FY25 transit formula funds to each public transit agency. It also prohibits USDOT from impeding or hindering a project from advancing or approving a project seeking a CIG federal share of more than 40 percent. Finally, the legislation authorizes projects in the Expedited Project Delivery for CIG Pilot Program to be eligible for funding under the CIG program without further evaluation or rating.

View APTA’s Public Transit Funding Table for FY25.

The CR retains important policy provisions enacted in FY24 THUD Appropriations Act, including authorizing CRISI grants for commuter railroad projects that implement or sustain positive train control systems. It also authorizes CRISI grants for passenger rail planning and project development activities (e.g., preliminary engineering).

View APTA’s Passenger Rail Funding Table for FY25.

The CR and IIJA provide $1.8 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) competitive grants for surface transportation projects, including public transportation and multi-modal projects.

The bill retains a provision that prohibits USDOT from enforcing a mask mandate in response to COVID in FY25.

View H.R. ____, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 and the section-by-section summary of the bill.

Read more in APTA’s latest Legislative Update.

APTA’s Industry Footprint shows every public transit system, supplier, and manufacturer by congressional district and state. APTA members should use this resource during their congressional meetings to show Members of Congress the importance of the public transportation industry to their local economy.