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Quigley Secures Funding for Chicago Transportation & Housing Priorities

May 25, 2016

Included in FY2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD), secured billions in federal funding for Chicago transportation and urban housing priorities in the Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. The bill was successfully passed by the full House Appropriations Committee.

“America’s increasing public housing needs and crumbling infrastructure require sustained investments that will grow our economy, create jobs and strengthen local communities,” said Rep. Quigley. “Unfortunately, in recent years, House Appropriations bills were held hostage by harmful, across the board budget cuts, which didn’t allow for smart budgeting of public housing and transportation infrastructure needs, making the backlog of projects even longer. Thankfully, this year’s THUD bill lifts these budget caps and finally provides the necessary funding to get these projects off the ground. I’m proud to work on behalf of Chicagoans in the House Appropriations Committee to secure federal funding that our city desperately needs.”

Priorities that Rep. Quigley fought to secure include $100 million in Core Capacity grants for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to continue its modernization of the Red and Purple lines; and $199 million for commuter railroads, like Metra, to complete installment of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology to prevent collisions. Rep. Quigley has been integral in extending the PTC deadline and securing additional funds for commuter railroads to implement the safety technology. This year’s bill also includes several measures that Rep. Quigley and Senator Durbin have pushed for to help protect children in affordable housing from lead poisoning.

Funding for Chicago transportation priorities includes:

  • $100 million in Core Capacity grants for the Chicago Transit Authority,
  • $199 million for commuter railroads to complete installment of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology,
  • $450 million for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants,
  • $3 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG),
  • $5 million to help make public transit more accessible to elderly and disabled individuals,
  • $2 million to increase safety practices and training for shortline and regional railroads, and
  • Report language requiring the Department of Transportation to create a performance measure to help localities make public transit more accessible to jobs.

Funding for Chicago urban housing priorities include:

  • $130 million provided for Office of Lead Hazard Control and Health Homes
  • Report language requiring increased and more comprehensive lead assessments in federally assisted housing,
  • U.S. Government Accountability Office study on lead assessments in federally assisted housing,
  • $335 million for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA),
  • $630 million for the Housing Choice Voucher Program,
  • $50 million for Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP),
  • $2.5 billion for Homeless Assistance Grant Program,
  • $950 million for HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and
  • $35 million for Section 4 capacity building for Community Development and Affordable Housing program.

As Illinois’ only member on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Quigley has pushed for a long-term surface transportation bill and prioritized Chicago-area infrastructure investments as a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD). He supported passage of the DRIVE Act, which reauthorized transportation infrastructure investments for highway and mass transit. He has helped secure $35 million in Core Capacity grants to benefit CTA and over $100 million for projects to ease flooding in Cook County. Rep. Quigley has also fought for increased funding for the TIGER grant program to benefit both highways and pedestrian projects. His “Mike on the Move” initiative highlights how the federal government can support Chicago transportation and infrastructure.