Transportation (Ports)

This bill creates an exemption allowing foreign-registered freight vessels (over 1,000 gross tons, foreign-built, with U.S. crew) to transport goods between U.S. territories (like Hawaii or Alaska) and the mainland without complying with standard U.S. coastwise trade rules. It requires these vessels to hold a U.S. Coast Guard certificate of documentation and meet specific registration criteria. The bill also mandates that all vessels - U.S. or foreign - operating in U.S. coastwise trade must follow minimum U.S. labor and environmental standards. This directly affects foreign shipping companies seeking to serve U.S. territory routes while maintaining compliance with U.S. regulations.

This bill requires the installation of human trafficking awareness signs at rest stops and welcome centers along interstate highways. It adds a new project category to federal transportation funding programs specifically for procuring and installing these signs. The bill also expands a Department of Transportation advisory committee to include state transportation departments, mandating their appointment within 9 months of enactment. These changes directly affect state transportation agencies managing rest stops and travelers using interstate highway facilities.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to DOT for the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the Maritime Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Office of Inspector General. The bill provides appropriations to HUD for Management and Administration, Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Housing Programs, the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Policy Development and Research, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, and the Office of Inspector General. The bill also provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Access Board, the Federal Maritime Commission, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation,  the Surface Transportation Board, and The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.  Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.

HR 3055, the TRANSPORT Jobs Act, requires the Secretary of Transportation to create an action plan within 30 days of enactment to help transitioning military service members and veterans enter supply chain careers (like trucking, rail, and logistics). The plan must identify barriers veterans face in hiring, challenges employers encounter, and high-demand regions, while highlighting transferable skills and existing program gaps. It will recommend specific steps for the Transportation, Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor departments to improve recruitment, training, and retention of veterans in supply chain jobs. The bill directly affects veterans seeking these careers and supply chain employers needing qualified workers.

The Building Ships in America Act of 2025 creates a tax credit for investments in U.S. shipbuilding, equal to 33% of the cost of building qualifying vessels, with potential additional credits (up to 5% for U.S. insurance and 2% for U.S. classification standards). To qualify, vessels must be U.S. flag cargo ships built in the U.S., operating in U.S. foreign trade, meeting specific safety requirements, and operating under a 10-year agreement with the Maritime Administration. The bill also establishes a separate credit for shipyard construction and excludes certain maritime security payments from taxable income. These provisions aim to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry by making domestic shipbuilding more economically attractive while meeting national security requirements.

The SMART Infrastructure Act of 2025 requires federal agencies to modernize infrastructure permitting by using 3D digital models (digital twins) and a centralized electronic platform (e-NEPA portal). It directly affects transportation agencies, project developers, and communities involved in federal infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges under the Department of Transportation. Key provisions mandate that digital twins integrate real-time data for environmental and operational planning, while the e-NEPA portal streamlines document sharing, public access, and interagency coordination. The bill sets a goal to reduce environmental review timelines by at least 25% for eligible projects through these digital tools.

The Cargo Security Innovation Act establishes a pilot program to test advanced security technologies at up to six high-risk cargo transportation hubs, such as ports, airports, and rail yards, with elevated cargo theft rates. The Transportation Security Administration will provide grants to partnerships between transportation companies, rail police, and local law enforcement to deploy and evaluate these technologies. The bill prohibits using technology from "foreign entities of concern" and requires grantees to track fund usage for audits. After two years, the TSA must report on the technologies' effectiveness, and the pilot will end three years after initial deployment, followed by a GAO evaluation.

HR 3085, the Expanding Regional Airports Act, creates a new federal grant program to help specific regional airports expand their capacity. It authorizes $50 million annually to provide 3-10 grants per year to airports serving communities of at least 75,000 residents that are either general aviation airports or nonprimary commercial service airports. Grants can fund runway lengthening, expanded screening facilities, hangar construction, improved passenger amenities, and costs to meet federal security and operational requirements. This bill directly supports smaller airports seeking to handle more passengers and flights without requiring legislative changes to broader aviation policy.

HR 3663, the Bridge Protection Act, requires owners of bridges built before 1996 over navigable water to conduct vessel collision vulnerability assessments using a specific method. If assessments show high risk, owners must develop and implement a risk reduction plan within one year; failure to do so after October 1, 2026, makes them ineligible for federal bridge grants (unless granted an extension). The bill also establishes an interdisciplinary bridge safety team to oversee compliance and maintain a national vulnerability database, and creates a $500 million competitive grant program (2026-2030) to fund assessments and physical improvements for these older bridges. This directly affects state and local bridge owners managing pre-1996 structures.

# Summary of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This comprehensive appropriations bill allocates funding for the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies for fiscal year 2026. ## Key Funding Areas 1. **Department of Transportation**: Includes funding for transportation infrastructure, safety programs, and related initiatives. 2. **Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)**: - Tenant-based rental assistance (Section 8) - Public housing operating and capital funds - Lead hazard reduction programs - Fair housing activities - Homeless assistance grants - Community development programs - Healthy homes initiatives 3. **Related Agencies**: Funding for the Access Board, Federal Maritime Commission, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), National Transportation Safety Board, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and Surface Transportation Board. ## Major Restrictions and Provisions 1. **Funding Restrictions**: - No funds may be used for certain types of training (e.g., training inducing emotional stress, religious content, or designed to change personal values) - No funds for first-class airline travel in contravention of federal regulations - No funds for certain projects (e.g., no funds to support projects using eminent domain for private economic development) - No funds to facilitate new scheduled air transportation to Cuban Government-confiscated property 2. **Reporting Requirements**: - Quarterly reports to Congress on uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess funds - Semi-annual reports on properties with failing physical inspections 3. **Fund Transfer Rules**: - Strict limitations on reprogramming funds without Congressional approval - Restrictions on transferring funds between accounts (e.g., no more than 10% or $5 million transfer between offices) - Specific rules for transfer of funds to the Information Technology Fund 4. **Other Significant Provisions**: - Restrictions on using funds for certain types of litigation - Requirements for transparency in consulting services - Limits on using funds for executive-legislative activities - Prohibitions on using funds for certain types of contracts (e.g., "HAP Contract Support Services" solicitation) The bill contains numerous specific restrictions on how funds may be used, with over 100 provisions detailing what the funds cannot be used for, reflecting a strong emphasis on fiscal responsibility and program accountability.