A House panel is set to take up fiscal 2027 transportation funding legislation on June 3, with the measure including $200 million for truck parking programs across the country.
The funding is included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill, which was approved by a subcommittee before the Memorial Day recess, would fund the Department of Transportation during the next fiscal year.
Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-Ark.) said the proposal places a strong emphasis on transportation safety across railroads, highways and aviation, while also maintaining support for federal housing programs. He said the bill prioritizes safety in transportation systems and provides a responsible housing safety net for vulnerable groups, including elderly people, individuals with disabilities, veterans and working poor Americans.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said the legislation is designed to improve national connectivity and strengthen transportation safety for both travelers and freight carriers.
Under the proposal, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would receive $926.6 million in fiscal 2027 funding. The bill also would provide $64.5 billion in total budgetary resources for the Federal Highway Administration, $3 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration, $1.4 billion for the Maritime Administration and $1.2 billion for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In total, the measure would provide $92.2 billion in discretionary funding for transportation and housing programs.
Democrats on the committee criticized the Republican-led bill, saying it does not go far enough to address affordability and mobility challenges. Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said the legislation fails to respond to the financial pressures facing Americans. She argued that the bill reduces critical investments in housing and community development, cuts Amtrak and other transportation resources, and could increase congestion and delays for commuters traveling to work or school.
Transportation subcommittee ranking member James Clyburn (D-S.C.) also said the measure does not fully reflect national priorities, pointing to continued challenges involving accessibility and affordability.
The Senate has not yet scheduled consideration of its version of the fiscal 2027 transportation funding bill. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently defended the White House’s budget request on Capitol Hill, saying the proposal is intended to modernize transportation systems and improve U.S. competitiveness. Speaking to senators May 19, Duffy said the budget supports the administration’s goal of rebuilding the nation’s transportation network, restoring American competitiveness and making long-term investments as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
Several industry groups welcomed the truck parking funding included in the House legislation. American Trucking Associations praised the $200 million allocation, saying it has long urged Congress to increase federal investment in truck parking infrastructure. The shortage of available truck parking has consistently ranked among the trucking industry’s top concerns in surveys conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.
ATA President Chris Spear said May 21 that the lack of truck parking forces drivers to spend significant time searching for safe places to stop, placing strain on drivers and the supply chain while creating safety risks on the nation’s roads.
Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton credited Womack for supporting truck parking initiatives and highlighted trucking’s role in interstate commerce and employment in Arkansas.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed funding legislation that also included $200 million for truck parking projects. The Federal Highway Administration is overseeing those funds, which are intended to improve safety and efficiency along freight corridors.
