2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The Transportation Department To
Form An Interagency Working Group To Advance The Development Of Advanced
Air Mobility (AAM) Systems, Specifically Passenger Aircraft, And Develop
An AAM National Strategy. In June 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination
and Leadership Act, which would "require the Transportation Department
to establish an interagency working group to coordinate efforts related
to advancing the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) systems in
the United States, particularly passenger aircraft. It would require the
working group to develop and submit to Congress an AAM national
strategy, including recommendations regarding the safety, operations,
infrastructure, security, air traffic concepts and federal investment or
actions needed to support the evolution of early AAM, as well as a plan
detailing the responsibilities of federal, state and local governments
to implement the recommendations. In preparing the strategy, it would
require the working group to examine, among other factors, air traffic
management and safety concepts relevant to higher levels of traffic
density; existing federal programs that could be leveraged to advance
the AAM industry; infrastructure needed to support expanded operations
of AAM; and steps to ensure a robust domestic supply chain." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 380-30, thus the
bill was sent to the President. [House Vote 268,
6/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/22;
Congressional Actions, S.
516]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize $25 Million Through FY 2023 For
A Pilot Grant Program To Support State And Local Governments Or Transit
Agencies Develop And Deploy Infrastructure That Support Advanced Air
Mobility Activities, Including Flying Cars, Passenger Air Vehicles And
Electric Aircraft. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization
Act, which would "authorize $25 million through fiscal 2023 for a
two-year Transportation Department pilot program to award grants to
assist state and local governments or transit agencies in developing and
deploying infrastructure to support advanced air mobility (AAM)
activities, including flying cars, passenger air vehicles and electric
aircraft. The bill would authorize planning grants of up to $1 million
for recipients to develop a comprehensive plan for AAM infrastructure
and construction grants for design, bidding, environmental studies and
other activities related to the construction of a public-use vertiport
and associated infrastructure to support AAM operations." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 338-73, thus the bill
was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 257,
6/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6270]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The Department Of Transportation To
Submit A Report Regarding The Benefits Of Commuter Rail. In December
2023, Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion to suspend the rules and pass
the bill, as amended, that would require the Transportation Department,
within one year of enactment, to conduct a study and submit a report to
Congress identifying the benefits of commuter rail passenger
transportation and major obstacles to providing commuter rail passenger
transportation that does not involve a transfer for passengers." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 356 to 61,
thus it was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 694,
12/5/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/5/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1547]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Package,
Which Provided $87.3 Billion For The Departments Of Transportation And
Housing And Urban Development And Related Agencies. In December 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted to concur with
the Senate amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which
would "provide approximately $25.5 billion for the Agriculture
Department and related agencies; $82.4 billion for the Commerce and
Justice departments and science and related agencies; $797.7 billion
for the Defense Department; $54 billion for the Energy Department and
federal water projects; $27.6 billion for the Treasury Department,
federal judiciary and a number of executive agencies; $60.7 billion for
the Homeland Security Department; $38.9 billion for the Interior
Department, EPA and related agencies; $207.4 billion for the Labor,
Health and Human Services and Education departments and related
agencies; $6.9 billion for legislative branch entities; $154.2 billion
for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction, and related
agencies; $59.7 billion for the State Department and related agencies;
and $87.3 billion for the Transportation and Housing and Urban
Development departments and related agencies." The vote was on a motion
to concur. The House concurred with the Senate amendment by a vote of
225-201, thus bill was sent to President Biden and ultimately became
law. [House Vote 549,
12/23/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/23/22;
Congressional Actions, S.Amdt.
6552;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2617]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Appropriating $105.4 Billion To The
Transportation Department For FY 2023, Including $18.7 Billion For The
Federal Aviation Administration, $17.5 Billion For Transit, And $3.8
Billion For Rail. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, which would
"provide $105.4 billion for the Transportation Department in
discretionary funding and from federal transportation trust funds,
including $61.3 billion for highways, $18.7 billion for the Federal
Aviation Administration, $17.5 billion for transit and $3.8 billion
for rail." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
220-207, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate did not take
substantive action on the legislation. Congress passed and signed into
law the FY 2023 Budget through H.R. 2617. [House Vote 383,
7/20/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/20/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8294]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Provide $102.9 Billion To The
Transportation Department, Including Transportation Trust Funds, Which
Contained $57.5 Billion For Federal Highway Administration Formula
Programs And $16.3 Billion For The Federal Transit Administration. In
March 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for
the second portion of the Fiscal 2022 Omnibus Appropriations, which
would "provide a total of $102.9 billion for the Transportation
Department -- including funding from transportation trust funds --
containing $57.5 billion for Federal Highway Administration formula
programs and $16.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration." The
vote was on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment with a House
amendment. The bill was divided and this vote was the second portion of
the bill. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote of 260-171.
After resolving differences, the bill was sent to the President and
became law. [House Vote 66,
3/9/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/9/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
2471]
The Bill Would Unlock Some Funding Authorized By The Bipartisan
Infrastructure Package Passed In November 2021 Once Signed Into
Law. According to CNN, "The passage of the spending bill would
allow the release of some of the funding authorized by the
bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed in
November. Due to a budgeting quirk, some of the money cannot be
spent until the fiscal year 2022 appropriations measure is signed
into law. The restriction affects a portion of the funds slated for
the federal highway program and public transit programs, for
example." [CNN,
3/9/22]
The Bill Provided $4 Billion For Rural Development Programs,
Including For Broadband Service Expansion And The ReConnect
Program. According to Time, "After 2021's bipartisan
infrastructure bill provided a $65 billion investment in rural
infrastructure to increase broadband access, the latest spending
measure invests an additional $4 billion for rural development
programs. Of that amount, $550 million will go towards the
expansion of broadband service and $450 million for the ReConnect
program, which provides loans and grants to cover the cost of
broadband construction and improvement." [Time,
3/9/22]
The Bill Provided $1.45 Billion For Rural Water And Waste Program
Loans And Over $653 Million To Provide Safe Drinking Water And
Sanitary Waste Disposal Systems. According to Time, "Additional
spending will be invested in basic utility infrastructure, including
$1.45 billion for rural water and waste program loans and over
$653 million in grants to provide safe drinking water and sanitary
waste disposal systems." [Time,
3/9/22]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill,
Which Provided $86.2 Billion For The Department of Transportation. In
December 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2020 minibus spending bill,
which represented 8 of the 12 appropriations bills. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The bill provides a net total of $86.2
billion in non-emergency budgetary resources for the Transportation
Department --- including $24.8 billion in discretionary appropriations
($1.7 billion less than FY 2019 but $3.0 billion more than requested)
and $61.3 billion in obligation authority for releases from
transportation trust funds for federal highway, transit and aviation
programs ($1.3 billion more than FY 2019 and $3 million more than
requested). Overall funding for the department is effectively equal to
FY 2019 but $3.3 billion more than requested." The vote was a motion to
concur in the Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote
of 297-120. The Senate later passed the bill and the President signed
the bill into law. [House Vote 689,
12/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1865]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Would Require The
Transportation Department To Prioritize Eligible Entities That
Collaborate With The Defense Department Or National Guard When Awarding
Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure Grants. In July 2023, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the
Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which
would "require the Transportation Department, in the process of
prioritizing awarding grants under the Advanced Air Mobility
Infrastructure Pilot Program, to also prioritize eligible entities that
collaborate with the Defense Department or National Guard." The vote was
on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a
vote of 220 to 215. [House Vote 347,
7/19/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/19/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3935;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
271]