Senators Hassan, Shaheen Urge Senate Colleagues to Support Strong Investments in TIGER Transportation Program, Reject Drastic Cut in House Bill

In new letter, Senators argue that elimination of TIGER program would “hurt states, local governments, ports, and transit agencies throughout America working to solve complex multimodal transportation challenges.”

Senators: TIGER “puts people to work, boosts regional economies, and improves infrastructure in our states and across the country.”

WASHINGTON – Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and 30 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) Friday to express serious concerns regarding the House Committee on Appropriations’ elimination of funding for the TIGER program in their Fiscal Year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill approved on July 17.

The Senators argued that the package falls short in supporting critical infrastructure projects across the country and urged them to include robust funding for the effective TIGER program in the Senate’s funding bill. In their letter the Senators noted TIGER’s bipartisan support and the difference the program has made in New Hampshire and states across America, arguing that over 7,300 applications for more than $165 billion in transportation projects have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) over the life of the program, demonstrating a clear need for continued investment in the TIGER program to meet the growing needs of communities throughout the nation.

“Our national infrastructure faces serious challenges and the need for continued investment to address aging infrastructure, spur economic development, and support good middle class jobs cannot be overstated,” the Senators wrote.

Senators Hassan, Collins, and Shaheen have previously worked together to secure TIGER funding for critical New Hampshire-Maine transportation projects.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

July 20, 2017

The Honorable Susan M. Collins

Chairman

Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Dirksen 184

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Jack Reed

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Hart 125

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Collins and Ranking Member Reed:

Our national infrastructure faces serious challenges and the need for continued investment to address aging infrastructure, spur economic development, and support good middle class jobs cannot be overstated. That is why we have serious concerns that the Fiscal Year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill approved by the House Committee on Appropriations on July 17 has fallen short in supporting critical infrastructure projects by eliminating funding for the National Infrastructure Investments program (TIGER). As you continue your work on the Fiscal Year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we strongly urge you to include robust funding for this effective program.

Since its creation in 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $5.1 billion to 421 innovative, multimodal projects in every state in the nation, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Each year the demand for TIGER far exceeds the amount of funding available. Over the life of the program, DOT has received more than 7,300 applications for more than $165 billion in transportation projects throughout the country, which clearly demonstrates the need for continued investment in the TIGER program.

The TIGER program enjoys support from Democrats and Republicans alike, as we have seen firsthand the difference the program can make in our states. In January during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, Secretary Chao noted TIGER is "one area of great agreement" in Congress and that the funding levels for this program were a "modest sum." Not funding TIGER would disregard the vast bipartisan support for this high impact, cost effective, and competitive program which leverages private, state, and local investment. It would also hurt states, local governments, ports, and transit agencies throughout America working to solve complex multimodal transportation challenges.

This unique program puts people to work, boosts regional economies, and improves infrastructure in our states and across the country. TIGER merits continued investment, and we urge you to reject proposals to eliminate the program and to provide robust funding for TIGER.

Sincerely,

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