2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Providing $3 Billion For Federal
Highway Administration Grants To Address Surface Transportation
Facilities That Separated Or Harmed Communities. In August 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
concurring in the Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of
2022, which would provide "$3 billion for Federal Highway
Administration grants for projects that address surface transportation
facilities that disconnect or negatively impact communities." The vote
was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote
220-207, thus the bill was sent to President Biden for final signage.
President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House
Vote 420, 8/12/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
8/12/22; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
5376]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Extend Funding And Authorities Through
December 3, 2021 For Federal Surface Transportation Programs And
Programs Funded By The Highway Trust Fund. In October 2021,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Further Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "extend
through Dec. 3, 2021, funding and authorities for federal surface
transportation programs, including highway, public transit, rail and
safety and research programs that were previously extended to expire on
Oct. 31. It would continue extended authorizations through Dec. 3 for
programs funded by the highway and mass transit accounts of the Highway
Trust Fund in amounts proportional to amounts authorized for such
programs in fiscal 2021. It would extend expenditure authority for the
fund through Dec. 4. It would require any federal employees furloughed
in the case of a trust fund expenditure lapse to be paid for the period
of the lapse. It would also extend through Dec. 4 expiring authorities
for Sport Fish Restoration and Boating and Leaking Underground Storage
Tank trust fund expenditures. Upon enactment of the bipartisan
infrastructure package (HR 3684), it would rescind any duplicate
contract authority provided by the bill." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 358-59, sent to the Senate, where it
passed by unanimous consent, and was sent to the President and
ultimately became law. [House Vote 339,
10/28/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 10/28/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5763]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Extend The Funding And The Authorization Of
Federal Surface Transportation Programs Through October 31st, 2021. In
October 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for the Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "extend
through Oct. 31, 2021, funding and authorities for federal surface
transportation programs, including highway, public transit, rail and
safety and research programs that expire after Sept. 30. For the
extension period, it would authorize appropriations for programs funded
by the highway and mass transit accounts of the Highway Trust Fund in
amounts proportional to amounts authorized for such programs in fiscal
2021. It would extend expenditure authority for the fund through Nov. 1,
2021. It would require federal employees furloughed as a result of the
trust fund expenditure lapse to be paid for the period of the lapse, and
it would require employees required to work during the lapse to be paid
at their standard rate of pay. It would increase funding levels during
the extension period for nationally significant freight and highway
projects grants and in-vehicle alcohol detection device research. It
would also extend for approximately one month expiring authorities for
Sport Fish Restoration and Boating and Leaking Underground Storage Tank
trust fund expenditures and funding for the Appalachian Regional
Commission and sport fishing activities. Upon enactment of the
bipartisan infrastructure package (HR 3684), it would rescind any
duplicate contract authority provided by the bill." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 365-51 and sent to the
Senate and President and became law. [House Vote 313,
10/1/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 10/1/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5434]
The Measure To Extend Surface Transportation Programs Was A
"Backup Plan" Which Would Buy Lawmakers Time To Gather More Support
For The Infrastructure Bill. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The extension (HR 5434), which passed the House 365-51 and the
Senate via unanimous consent, was a backup plan initiated after
House Democratic leaders determined they couldn't yet round up the
votes for a Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill (HR 3684)
containing a five-year reauthorization of surface transportation
programs and $550 billion in new spending." [Congressional
Quarterly, 10/2/21]
The Transportation Of Department Had Furloughed 3,700 Employees
Due To The Programs' Expiration. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "A Transportation Department spokesperson said Friday
that 3,700 agency employees had been furloughed as a result of the
authorization expiring. The agency is 'taking every step we can to
mitigate the impacts of this temporary lapse in authorization,' the
spokesperson said ahead of the House vote." [Congressional
Quarterly, 10/2/21]
Progressive Democrats Promised To Oppose The Infrastructure Bill
Until A Larger Tax And Spending Bill Is Passed. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The Senate's five-year infrastructure bill
was brought to the floor Monday and debate stretched throughout the
week in aim of a Thursday vote before surface transportation
programs lapsed. The measure is one of two bills that make up
Biden's economic agenda, but progressive Democrats had threatened to
oppose it until the other piece, a larger tax and spending package,
is passed." [Congressional Quarterly,
10/2/21]
The Extension Would Provide A 30 --Day Deadline to Pass The
Infrastructure Bill, But The Larger Tax And Spending Bill Will Need
To Pass First Or Congress Will Need To Pass Another Program
Extension. According to Congressional Quarterly, "the 30-day
extension of the surface transportation authorization (PL 114-94)
effectively provides a new deadline for the House to act on the
Senate-passed infrastructure bill. That means the larger tax and
spending bill (HR 5376) for health, education and other programs
will need to be done by then, or Democratic leaders will have to try
to move another short-term patch." [Congressional Quarterly,
10/2/21]