Great Lakes Wire

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate Appropriations Committee pass the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bipartisan legislation would fund Michigan priorities, high-impact local projects and federal programs that support key transportation, workforce and housing initiatives. The legislation would also help advance auto safety and innovation in addition to assistance for airports to transition from PFAS firefighting foam at airports.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering their own funding bills. The Senate and House will then need to reach an agreement on a final funding bill and have it pass both chambers before being sent to the President to be signed into law.

“From resources for local transportation, infrastructure and housing projects across our state to funding to improve auto safety and help airports move away from PFAS firefighting foam, this bill would help Michiganders across our state,” said Senator Peters, who serves on the Appropriations Committee and as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports. “This bill is a positive step and I’ll keeping advocating for these Michigan priorities as we continue to work to fund the government.”

The bill includes measures led and supported by Peters, including:

• Funding for an I-75 overbuild in Detroit: Would provide $1,879,000 for the City of Detroit to advance the I-75 overbuild project. The project would create a nearly 5 acre cover over I-75 near Cass Corridor that would connect the community to downtown.
• Funding to support the renovation of Beecher High School in Flint: Would provide $2 million to support the renovation, remodeling, and reopening of a new Beecher High School building in Flint to improve facilities and opportunities for students.
• Funding to replace the Capital Region International Airport’s terminal: Would provide $8.1 million for architectural and engineering services to replace an over 60-year-old terminal to improve functionality at the Capital Region International Airport in Lansing.
• Funding to support infrastructure improvements in Saginaw: Would provide $1.2 million for infrastructure improvements, equipment purchases, and technology enhancements to improve capacity, safety, and service at Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services, improving transit services for local residents who rely on them every day.
• Funding to revitalize downtown Pontiac: Would provide $2 million to support the acquisition and redevelopment of vacant and underutilized property in downtown Pontiac to turn into a public gathering space.
• Funding for a new facility for Delta Schoolcraft’s Career and Technical Center: Would provide $1.4 million for a new facility for Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District’s Career and Technical Center to expand workforce development programs for students.
• Funding for Muskegon Public Schools to create a Career Exploration Center: Would provide $2 million to support creation of a grade 6 through 10 Career Exploration Center for Muskegon Public Schools students, enabling a workforce development program to offer skills training and job placement in careers in manufacturing, skilled trades, health care and information technology.
• Funding to replace bridges in Midland and Detroit: Would provide $2,290,000 to support the Michigan Department of Transportation’s replacement of the Lemay Street bridge over I-94 in Detroit and the bridge M-30 over US10 in Midland.
• Funding to help address housing shortage in Portage: Would provide $1 million to develop workforce housing units in support of the City of Portage’s efforts to address a local housing shortage.
• Funding to expand transit options in Calhoun County: Would provide $1.5 million for the City of Battle Creek to expand county-wide transit options in Calhoun County.
• Funding to prevent flooding at the Bay City Airport: Would provide $290,000 for improvements to the James Clements Airport's stormwater pump station in Bay City to prevent flooding.
• Funding to replace the Davis Street Bridge in Utica: Would provide $728,000 to go toward the replacement of the Davis Street Pedestrian Bridge on the Iron Belle Trail near its intersection with M-59.
• Funding for City of Dearborn housing quality improvement initiative: Would provide $1.5 million for housing improvements in high-poverty areas of Dearborn that have faced consistent issues with flooding and resulting property damage.
• Funding to reconstruct alleyways in Hamtramck: Would provide $965,000 to reconstruct 20 alleyways in Hamtramck to improve transportation options.
• Funding for affordable housing for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians: Would provide $1 million to support affordable housing units for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians tribal members and their families.
• Advancing auto safety and innovation: Includes measures that are important for auto safety and innovation and would create a pathway for the safe development and development of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. One Peters-led measure would require the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize their expected proposed rulemaking within six months to develop a regulatory frame around AV development and deployment. It also would provide funding for the Office of Automation Safety at NHTSA to help accelerate the safe deployment of AVs by having dedicated staff to develop and set safety standards. Another Peters-led measure would direct NHTSA to create partnerships with public, private and non-profit partners to increase recall awareness and completion rates—and to reduce the number of vehicles with unrepaired recalls. This would help make our roads safer by removing vehicles that have safety-related defects. For more on the measures secured that bolster auto safety and innovation, click here.
• Assistance for airports to transition away from PFAS firefighting foam: Would incentivize airports to quickly transition away from using toxic PFAS firefighting foam by offering additional resources to airports that do so. Experts estimate that airports will be spending approximately $30,000 for setup and $30,000 per foam truck to safely clean their existing systems of PFAS containing foams. The transition away from PFAS in firefighting foam is important to public health and safety , and FAA needs to plan to make that transition swiftly, including by offering additional resources to airports. Michigan airports could benefit from an agency-wide effort to incentivize and fund transition away from PFAS firefighting foam. This provision builds on Peters leading and enacting into law a provision in the 2018 FAA reauthorization allowing airports to phase out the use of firefighting foams that contain PFAS or similar fluorinated chemicals. Earlier this year, Peters urged the FAA to expedite a plan to transition to firefighting foams that do not contain PFAS. It also comes after Peters’ bipartisan legislation signed into law in December 2022 to reduce the spread of PFAS chemicals at airports by allowing airports increased access to testing devices that limit exposure to these chemicals.
• Funding to improve port infrastructure along the Great Lakes: Would provide funding for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which awards grants to improve port infrastructure and facilities on the coasts and along the Great Lakes –  facilitating economic growth, improving safety, addressing climate change, and improving efficiency of supply chains. PIDP grants are a critical source of federal assistance to reconstruct docks, improve road and rail access, expand storage capacity, and modernize cargo handling equipment. Peters has been a strong advocate for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. The bill would also provide funding for State Maritime Academies, which Peters has long supported.
• Funding for the Federal Aviation Administration: Would provide funding for FAA operations, which will allow the FAA to continue its air traffic controller hiring surge by adding 1,800 new controllers, improve the condition and reliability of critical IT and telecommunications legacy systems, continue to improve aircraft certification, and accelerate the deployment of new entrants into the national airspace. The bill would also provide funding for FAA facilities and equipment and data programs, which would improve the efficiency of air traffic control and lead to fewer flight delays.
• Funding for the Airport Improvement Program: Would provide necessary funding for the Airport Improvement Program, which supports aviation infrastructure at airports across the country, including in Michigan. The state is home to 18 commercial service airports and more than 80 general aviation airports in Michigan. Funds from this program, supplemented by state and local funds, are critical to the ongoing safety and efficiency of Michigan’s aviation system. AIP grants provide funding for projects that include runway pavement upgrades and rehabilitation, approach protection and obstruction mitigation, lighting improvements, navigation aids, and many other critical safety improvements that support a vibrant Michigan aviation industry.
• Funding for small and rural airports in Michigan and across the country: Would provide necessary funding to support the continued success of the Essential Air Service (EAS), a federal grant program that incentivizes airlines to fly to small, rural and underserved communities. This program benefits communities that otherwise would not receive any scheduled air service—and is important fo travelers, economic development and local economies. Michigan has nine communities eligible for the Essential Air Service program: Alpena, Escanaba, Hancock/Houghton, Iron Mountain/Kingsford; Ironwood, Manistee/Ludington, Muskegon, Pellston and Sault Ste. Marie.
• Promoting Women in Aviation: Would require further study of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Women in Aviation Committee’s findings. This builds on Peters’ bipartisan bill to promote women in aviation by extending the lifespan of the Women in Aviation Advisory Committee in the FAA to make recommendations about strengthening the national aviation workforce by improving recruitment, retention, and promotion of women. This would help strengthen the aviation workforce at-large as well as address pilot shortage challenges. Women continue to be underrepresented in the aviation field, where they currently make up less than 12 percent of aerospace engineers, less than 10 percent of licensed pilots and less than 3 percent of maintenance technicians. 
• Funding for highways and bridges: The bill would provide funding for federal highways, consistent with the bipartisan infrastructure law that Peters helped enact. This includes funding for bridges and other critical programs.
• Funding for rail infrastructure and safety: Would provide funding for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), including increased funds for their safety and operations budget in light of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The bill would also provide funding for the Federal Rail Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grants program for rail infrastructure updates to address safety and efficiency needs. These grants help address congestion challenges and infrastructure-in-need-of-maintenance that affect both our national freight rail system as well as our passenger rail system. Peters, as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, helped advance bipartisan rail safety legislation earlier this year. The bill would also provide funding for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration’s (PHMSA) emergency preparedness grants and require the agency to conduct research to improve the survivability of placards identifying hazardous materials on trains.
• Increasing the supply of affordable housing: Would make critical investments to increase the supply of affordable housing; including through the Community Development Block Grant program, which Peters has long advocated for. Other programs include the HOME Investment Partnership Program, the primary federal tool of state and local governments that produces affordable rental and owner-occupied housing, and the “Yes In My Back Yard” grant program, which helps remove barriers to affordable housing production to keep up with market demand.
• Strengthening Investments in Rental Assistance Programs: Would provide critical support for HUD rental assistance programs, which assist nearly 5 million vulnerable households—more than half of whom are elderly or people with disabilities. The programs supported include Section 8 vouchers, project-based rental assistance programs to renew housing contracts, and public housing.
• Reducing homelessness: Would provide funding for Homeless Assistance Grants and investments for homeless youth and survivors of domestic violence. The bill would provide funding for permanent supportive housing, assistance to communities to connect homeless residents with health care services, and funding so providers can hire and retain qualified personnel.

Original source can be found here.