The League of Conservation Voters led 25 environmental organizations in sending the below letter to the House of Representatives urging Members to oppose the following amendments to H.R. 4820, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, when they come up for votes. The League of Conservation Voters will strongly consider including votes related to these amendments in our 2023 National Environmental Scorecard.

November 2, 2023

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Re: Amendment Vote Recommendations on H.R. 4820, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Dear Member of Congress,

On behalf of our many members and supporters, the 25 undersigned groups make the following vote recommendations on amendments to H.R. 4820, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. While not all undersigned organizations work directly on each of these issues, we appreciate your consideration of these pro-environmental positions.

Thank you for your consideration,

League of Conservation Voters

Center for Biological Diversity

Clean Energy for America

Clean Water Action

Climate Action Campaign

Coltura

Earthjustice

Endangered Species Coalition

Environmental Law & Policy Center

Evergreen Action

Friends of Blackwater, Inc.

Friends of Merrymeeting Bay

GreenLatinos

Humane Action Pennsylvania

Humane Action Pittsburgh

Kentucky Conservation Committee

Natural Resources Defense Council

Partnership for Policy Integrity

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Public Citizen

Sierra Club

The Wilderness Society

Together for Brothers (T4B) and Albuquerque Bus Riders Union (ABRU)

Union of Concerned Scientists

WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Vote NO

6. Perry (PA) This Bureau runs the popular Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, among others. TIFIA is a cost-effective federal financing program that supports major infrastructure projects. Cutting funding for the Bureau would limit its ability to offer this crucial financing tool and could lead project sponsors to delay or abandon their projects.

20. Perry (PA) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S., and support for freight and passenger rail is critical to improving the overall efficiency of the sector, meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country, and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-roadway communities. Improved rail infrastructure also provides people affordable options for long-distance travel, better access to jobs and services, and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

22 and 25. Perry (PA) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S., and support for public transportation is critical to improving the overall efficiency of the sector, meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country, and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-roadway communities. Improved public transit infrastructure also provides people better access to jobs and services, cuts roadway congestion, and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

23. Perry (PA) This amendment eliminates funding for the Capital Investment Grant program at the Federal Transit Administration, which helps communities build new transit lines and extend existing lines. The program is used by communities both large and small to provide residents with better access to jobs, housing, and services.

44. Ogles (TN), 45. Rosendale (MT), 46. Buck (CO), and 47. Schweikert (AZ) HR 4820 already includes a $7 billion cut for the Department of Transportation and a $1.2 billion cut to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which represent significant decreases from the FY2023 budget. Rolling back budget authority for these agencies would hobble their ability to invest in transformative infrastructure projects and address the growing affordable housing crisis.

48. Burlison (MO) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S. and efforts to advance electric, tailpipe pollution-free vehicles are critical to meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-roadway communities. Boosting charging options for electric vehicles also helps save money for families and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

49. Cammack (FL) and 53. Graves (LA) This amendment would prevent any major rules from being promulgated, regardless of their benefits or whether they are required by existing law. This could prevent life-saving protections for Americans.

51. Good (VA) This amendment would repeal the Davis-Bacon Act, which would eliminate critical protections for workers on federally-funded projects. The law protects workers from wage underbidding by requiring contractors to pay their workers at least local prevailing wage and benefits.

54 and 55. Greene (GA), 62. Nehls (TX), 64. Norman (SC), 67 and 68 Ogles (TN), and 73 Santos (NY) The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation, and their subunits, play crucial roles in reducing air pollution, improving our communities, reducing energy waste, and keeping families safe all across the country. Any amendments to arbitrarily and punitively cut salaries for federal government officials or limit their options for travel are personal financial attacks on individuals whose job it is to carry out the administration’s policies and are wholly inappropriate, unwarranted and would undermine efforts to improve our transportation and housing sectors, reduce health- and climate-harming pollution, and make our roadways safer and less costly, among other beneficial services. Top officials directing important federal government business should be fairly paid for their work, and any attacks on government officials’ pay should be rejected.

56. Greene (GA) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S. and efforts to improve the efficiency of vehicles and reduce emissions are critical to meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-roadway communities. Reducing emissions and improving efficiency of transportation options also helps save money for families and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

57. Hageman (WY) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S. and efforts to advance electric, tailpipe pollution free vehicles are critical to meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-roadway communities. Boosting charging options for electric vehicles also helps save money for families and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

61. McCormick (GA) As the world undergoes the impacts of a changing climate, this amendment would prohibit the administration from implementing Executive Orders aimed to address climate pollution and environmental injustice. The amendment would eliminate the White House Office of Environmental Justice, remove ambitious goals to transition to electric vehicles and make the federal government more environmentally sustainable, and cut climate pollution.

63. Nehls (TX) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S., and support for cleaner ferries is critical to improving the overall efficiency of the sector, meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country, and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-port communities. Improving ferries also provides people affordable options for travel, better access to jobs and services, and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

65. Norman (SC) This amendment would command the federal government to blind itself to the economic costs of climate change. Weakening or eliminating the use of the social cost of carbon as a tool for federal agencies would ignore the sobering cost of health, environmental and economic impacts of extreme weather, rising temperatures, intensifying smog, and other impacts. These costs, which affect businesses, families, governments and taxpayers, could reach hundreds of billions of dollars through rising health care costs, destruction of property, increased food prices, and more.

69. Ogles (TN) The transportation sector emits the most climate pollution of any sector in the U.S., and rules aiming to improve the efficiency of vehicles and therefore reduce emissions are critical to meeting our commitments to reduce climate pollution across the country and advancing environmental justice particularly for near-roadway communities. Improving fuel efficiency for cars and trucks also helps save money for families and reduces our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels.

70. Perry (PA) Transit-oriented developments not only help connect communities to necessary resources but also serve as engines for economic development. This amendment unnecessarily limits support of a proven strategy to improve access to affordable transportation options, reduce household transportation costs and create economically thriving communities.

72. Roy (TX) This amendment would block spending to implement executive orders that help reduce pollution, adapt to climate change, and improve the clean energy independence of buildings and installments. The damaging effects of this amendment would include hobbling our government’s ability to prepare for and respond to the very real threats of the climate crisis.