House Appropriations Committee unveils transportation spending levels

The House Appropriations Committee announced Wednesday it was allocating $55 billion for transportation, housing and urban development next year, with $16.7 million going directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

President Obama's proposed budget called for $74 billion to go to transportation spending next year, with $13 billion going to the DoT's operating budget.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) hailed the fact Wednesday that panel's overall transportation proposal was significantly less than Obama's, but still increased DoT funding by $3 billion.

“Step by step, we are trimming government spending and streamlining programs to make them more cost-effective, efficient, and responsive to the American people," Rogers said in a statement released by his office.

"This bill saves taxpayers billions of dollars and eliminates waste wherever possible," he continued. "And it reflects responsible decisions to ensure that the transportation and housing programs Americans rely on can remain in place for years to come without putting our nation even further in debt."

The appropriations committee pointed out that the numbers released Wednesday were within the limits on discretionary spending that were approved in the deal to raise the federal debt ceiling last month.

The debt deal caps non-security agency spending to $359 billion for fiscal year 2012.

Though it less than the proposal from President Obama, who has sought to increase transportation funding, the proposed spending levels are close to current appropriations.

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