Vote on Nominations Including Neil Jacobs for NOAA Administrator, Taylor Jordan for NOAA Deputy Administrator, and Anti-Shark Legislation

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee Executive Session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following:

Agenda:

  • Nomination of Neil Jacobs, of North Carolina, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA Administrator) - Agreed to by voice vote. Markey, Blunt-Rochester, Peters, Duckworth, Hickenlooper, Fetterman, Kim recorded as noes after the fact.

  • Nomination of Paul Roberti, of Rhode Island, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Roll call vote 22-6. R aye: Wicker Fischer Moran Sullivan Blackburn Young Budd Schmitt Moreno Sheehy Capito Lummis. R Aye by proxy: Thune, Curtis. Curtis. D aye: Cantwell Rosen. D aye by proxy: Klobuchar Peters Baldwin Duckworth Fetterman. D no: Markey Luján Hickenlooper Kim Blunt-Rochester Schatz. (Cantwell initially asked for Schatz to be aye by proxy)

  • Nomination of Gregory Zerzan, of Texas, to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation. Roll call vote 15-13. R aye: Wicker Fischer Moran Sullivan Blackburn Young Budd Schmitt Curtis Moreno Sheehy Capito Lummis Cruz. R aye by proxy Thune. D no: Cantwell Klobuchar Schatz Markey Peters Baldwin Duckworth Rosen Luján Hickenlooper Fetterman Kim Blunt-Rochester

  • Nomination of Taylor Jordan, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction (NOAA). Roll call vote: 15-13. Same as above.

  • Nomination of Jonathan Morrison, of California, to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Roll call vote: 16-12. Peters aye by proxy.

  • Nomination of Derek Barrs, of Florida, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Roll call vote: 15-13.

  • Nomination of Michael Rutherford, of Florida, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy. Roll call vote: 15-13.

  • Nomination of Harry Kumar, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Not voted on.

  • Nomination of Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology. Not voted on.

  • Coast Guard Promotions (PN 127-2, PN 367, PN 371, PN 414) - Agreed to by voice vote

  • S.2314, SHARKED Act of 2025 (Scott-FL) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell

  • S.2318, Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act (Blunt-Rochester) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell

  • S.2351, Space Exploration Research Act (Cruz) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell

  • S.1691, Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 (Merkley). Not voted on.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
253 Russell

07/30/2025 at 10:00AM

Markup of Disaster Recovery and other legislation

Full committee markup.

Legislation:

  • S. 854, Risky Research Review Act; 12-3 (Gallego, Slotkin, Kim nay)
  • S. 855, Royalty Transparency Act; 15-0
  • S. 269, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act; 15-0
  • S. 81, Guidance Clarity Act of 2025;
  • S. 861, Disaster Assistance Simplification Act; 15-0
  • S. 766, Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025; 15-0
  • S. 872, Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025; 15-0
  • S. 727, CBPO Retirement Technical Corrections Act; 15-0
  • S. 874, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act; 15-0
  • S. 594, Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act, to allow non-competitive disaster recovery contracts to last more than 150 days; 15-0
  • S. 865, Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act; 15-0
  • S. 856, Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act; 15-0
  • S. 850, Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act; 15-0
  • S. 848, Reporting Efficiently to Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism (REPORT) Act; 15-0
  • S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. 15-0
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
342 Dirksen

07/30/2025 at 10:00AM

Vote on Nominations of Audrey Robertson (EERE) and Tim Walsh (EM) to be Assistant Secretaries of Energy, and Lanny Erdos to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation

Full committee business meeting.

Nominees:

  • Lanny Erdos, of Ohio, to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
  • Audrey Robertson, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)
  • Timothy John Walsh, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary (Environmental Management), both of the Department of Energy.

The nomination hearing was held on July 9. David Eisner withdrew his nomination to be Department of Energy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs.

Audrey Robinson is an oil executive who “helped found Denver-based Franklin Mountain Energy, a since-sold natural gas fracking firm in the Permian Basin with an open investigation at EPA over recent Clean Air Act violations.” She “also sits on the board of Liberty Energy, the fracking services company led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright until his resignation in January. Earlier in her career, Robertson worked at Goldman Sachs and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, an investment firm focused on fossil fuels.”

Tim Walsh is a Colorado real estate developer who “has donated over $2.5 million to Republican candidates and conservative causes since 2022.”

All nominees were backed 11-9, Justice voting aye by proxy, all Democrats opposed.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
366 Dirksen

07/30/2025 at 09:30AM

POSTPONED Full Committee Markup of FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill

Full committee markup has been postponed.

Budget request:

Department of Labor
Program Name $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Make America Skilled Again (MASA) Grant Consolidation -1,640 States would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship.
Job Corps -1,584 The Budget eliminates Job Corps.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) -405 SCEP is eliminated.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Increases
Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) +500 Building on the work of the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission and Executive Order 14212, “Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission,” the Budget provides $500 million for the MAHA initiative.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) -4,025 The Budget proposes to end this program.
Refugee and Unaccompanied Alien Children Programs (UAC) -1,970 Refugee arrivals have dropped significantly under Executive Order 14163, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” The Budget proposes eliminating these programs.
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) -770 The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Preschool Development Grants (PDG) -315 The Budge proposed to eliminate this program.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Consolidations -1,732 The Budget consolidates a variety of programs that are part of HRSA, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program activities, such as: education and training (-$74 million); multiple Maternal and Child Health programs (-$274 million); multiple Health Workforce Programs (-$1 billion) which provide scholarships and support for individuals to enter medical careers; and family planning programs (-$286 million). The Budget maintains $6 billion for other activities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Programs -3,588 The Budget proposes merging multiple programs into one grant program. Specifically, the Budget proposes consolidating funding for Infectious Disease and Opioids, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Tuberculosis programs into one grant program funded at $300 million. The Budget eliminates programs including: the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion; National Center for Environmental Health; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; the Global Health Center; Public Health Preparedness and Response; and the Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant. The Budget maintains more than $4 billion for CDC.
National Institute of Health (NIH) -17,965 The Budget proposes to consolidate multiple programs into five new focus areas with associated spending cuts: the National Institute on Body Systems Research; National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Institute of Disability Related Research; and National Institute on Behavioral Health. The Budget also eliminates funding for the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities (-$534 million), the Fogarty International Center (-$95 million), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (-$170 million), and the National Institute of Nursing Research (-$198 million). This new structure retains the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The Budget maintains $27 billion for NIH research.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Eliminations -1,065 The Budget proposes to eliminate SAMHSA and eliminate funding for the Mental Health Programs of Regional and National Significance, Substance Use Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance, and the Substance Use Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) -129 The Budget eliminates funding for grants and contracts. In the Budget, AHRQ’s functions would be a part of the new HHS Office of Strategy.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Program Management -674 The Budget eliminates health equity-focused activities and Inflation Reduction Act-related outreach and education activities.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program -240 The Budget eliminates funding for ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program.
Administration for a Healthy America— Sexual Risk Avoidance Program and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, HHS Office on Women’s Health, HHS Office of Minority Health -180 The Budget eliminates the Sexual Risk Avoidance Program. The Budget also eliminates the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. The Budget also reduces funding levels for the HHS Office of Minority Health and Office on Women’s Health. These programs are under the Office of Assistant Secretary of Health. Consistent with the recently announced HHS reorganization, the Budget relocates these programs within the newly formed Administration for Healthy America.
Department of Education (ED)
Increases
Charter Schools +60 The Budget invests $500 million, a $60 million increase, to expand the number of charter schools.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Replace K-12 Programs with state grants -4,535 The K-12 Simplified Funding Program consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new $2 billion formula grant. The Budget preserves full funding for Title I, the supplemental Federal financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families.
Special Education Simplified Funding Program -- The Special Education Simplified Funding Program consolidates seven Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs into a formula grant.
TRIO programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) -1,579 TRIO and GEAR UP are eliminated.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) -980 The Budget cuts FWS and distributes remaining funding to institutions that serve the most low-income students and provide a wage subsidy to gain career-oriented opportunities to improve long-term employment outcomes of students.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) -910 The Budget proposes to eliminate SEOG.
English Language Acquisition -890 The Budget proposes to eliminate the English Language Acquisition program.
Adult Education -729 The Budget proposes to eliminate Adult Education programs.
Migrant Education and Special Programs for Migrant Students -428 The Budget eliminates these programs.
ED Program Administration -127 The Budget provides $293 million for program administration, a reduction of $127 million, or 30 percent with the intention of eliminating the Department of Education.
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Ed (FIPSE) and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need -195 The Budget proposes eliminating this program.
Strengthening Institutions -112 The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Teacher Quality Partnerships -70 The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Training and Advisory Services— Equity Assistance Centers -7 The Budget eliminates Equity Assistance Centers.
Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) -75 The Budget proposes to eliminate CCAMPIS.
Howard University -64 The Budget reduces funding for Howard University to the 2021 Budget level.
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) -49 The Budget provides OCR with $91 million, a reduction of $49 million, or 35 percent, compared to the 2024 enacted level.
Small Agency Eliminations
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
  • 400 Years of African American History Commission
  • Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps)
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
  • Institute of Museum and Library Sciences
  • Inter-American Foundation
  • Marine Mammal Commission
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
  • U.S. African Development Foundation
  • U.S. Agency for Global Media
  • U.S. Institute of Peace
  • U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • Woodrow Wilson Center
  • Presidio Trust
-3,586 The Budget includes the elimination of, or the elimination of Federal funding for, the following small agencies. Agencies in bold are in these appropriations bills.
  • Delta Regional Authority
  • Denali Commission
  • Northern Border Regional Commission
  • Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
  • Southwest Border Regional Commission
  • Great Lakes Authority
The Budget eliminates six small regional commissions. The Budget continues funding for Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) operations at $14 million.
House Appropriations Committee
2359 Rayburn

07/24/2025 at 10:00AM

POSTPONED Full Committee Markup of FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill

Full committee markup has been postponed. Subcommittee markup was on July 15.

  • Subcommittee mark
  • GOP summary
  • Democratic fact sheet
  • Democratic summary
    • Provides $5.795 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is $387.453 million (6%) below the FY25 enacted level.
      • Includes $4.152 billion for NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities, which is $257.186 million below the FY25 enacted level.
      • Includes $1.59 billion for NOAA procurement, acquisition, and construction, which is $129.967 million below the FY25 enacted level.
    • Provides $24.838 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which is equal to the FY25 enacted level.
      • Science – $6 billion, $1.33 billion below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level and $2.1 billion above the request.
      • STEM Engagement – $84 million, $59 million below the fiscal year 2024 enacted level.
    • Provides $7 billion for the National Science Foundation, which is $2.06 billion (23%) below the FY25 enacted level.
    • Provides $1 million for the Marine Mammal Commission, which is $3.5 million (78%) below the FY25 enacted level

Budget request

Program Name $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase
Department of Commerce
Increases
Fair Trade and Trade Enforcement +134 The Budget includes $134 million to strengthen trade enforcement. This includes an additional $122 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security. These new funds would also increase antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) -624 EDA programs are cut. MBDA is fully eliminated.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—Operations, Research, and Grants -1,311 The Budget terminates a variety of climate-related research, data, and grant programs.
NOAA—Procurement of Weather Satellites and Infrastructure -209 The Budget rescopes NOAA’s Geostationary and Extended Observ by canceling contracts for instruments designed primarily for climate measurements.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) -325 Climate and environmental grants like NIST’s Circular Economy Program are eliminated.
International Trade Administration (ITA)—Global Markets -145 The Budget refocuses ITA’s footprint to countering China and securing access to fossil-fuel and mineral resources.
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Reduce State and Local Grant Programs -1,019 The Budget proposes to eliminate nearly 40 DOJ grant programs. The Budget eliminates programs such as Community Based Approaches to Advancing Justice, as well as programs that focus on hate crimes. Further, the Budget cuts Violence Against Women Act funding.
Cut the FBI -545 The Budget reflects a new focus on counterintelligence and counterterrorism, while reducing non-law enforcement missions, including DEI programs and intelligence activities.
DEA International Capacity -212 The Budget targets DEA’s foreign spending to Mexico, Central America, South America, and China.
Refocus ATF Enforcement and Regulatory Priorities -468 The Budget cuts funding for ATF offices and background checks.
General Legal Activities -193 The Budget focuses funding for General Legal Activities on the Civil Division ($441 million), and the Criminal Division ($220 million). The Budget reduces funding for the Civil Rights Division and the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Increases
Human Space Exploration +647 The Budget allocates over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introduces $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Space Science -2,265 In line with the Administration’s objectives of returning to the Moon before China and putting a man on Mars, the Budget would reduce lower priority research and terminate unaffordable missions such as the Mars Sample Return mission that is grossly overbudget and whose goals would be achieved by human missions to Mars. The mission is not scheduled to return samples until the 2030s.
Mission Support -1,134 The Budget cuts the workforce, IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities.
Earth Science -1,161 The Budget eliminates funding for climate monitoring satellites and restructures the Landsat Next mission.
Legacy Human Exploration Systems -879 The Budget phases out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after three flights. budget. The Budget funds a program to replace SLS and Orion flights to the Moon with commercial systems. The Budget also proposes to terminate the Gateway, a small lunar space station in development with international partners, which would have been used to support future SLS and Orion missions.
Space Technology -531 The Budget reduces Space Technology by approximately half, including eliminating space propulsion projects. The reductions also scale back or eliminate technology projects in favor of private sector research and development.
International Space Station -508 The Budget reflects the transition to a commercial approach to human activities in space. The Budget reduces the space station’s crew size and onboard research, preparing for a decommissioning of the station by 2030 and replacement by commercial space stations. Crew and cargo flights to the station would be significantly reduced.
Aeronautics -346 The Budget eliminates climate-focused green aviation spending.
Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement -143 NASA will cut STEM programming and research.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
General Research and Education -3,479 The Budget cuts funding for: climate; clean energy; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; and other programs. Funding for Artificial Intelligence and quantum information sciences research is maintained at current levels.
Broadening Participation -1,130 All DEI-related programs at NSF are eliminated.
Agency Operations and Awards Management -93 This reduction to operations aligns with the Agency’s reduced size.
House Appropriations Committee
2362-B Rayburn

07/24/2025 at 10:00AM

Mind Over Methane: The No-Brainer Climate, Economic, and Health Solution

On Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), will lead Committee Democrats in a spotlight forum on how the oil and gas industry is releasing methane into our air that is warming our planet, raising our cost of living, and choking our children—all while the Trump Administration makes it easier for these companies to pollute. The forum, titled “Mind Over Methane: The No-Brainer Climate, Economic, and Health Solution,” will highlight progress that many states, companies, and researchers are making on this issue despite federal rollbacks.

Speakers:

  • Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  • Dr. Arvind Ravikumar, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering; Co-Director of the Energy Emissions Monitoring and Data Laboratory
  • Courtney Smith, First Principal Deputy Executive Officer at the California Air Resources Board
  • Lori Ehrlich, Former Massachusetts State Representative; Former FEMA Region 1 Administrator
  • Dr. Sarav Arunachalam, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering; Research Professor and Deputy Director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment

Methane is a greenhouse gas more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide, and it is responsible for approximately one third of the rise in global temperatures. In the United States, the oil and gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions: at every stage of fossil fuel production, this dangerous, poisonous, explosive gas is leaked or deliberately released into our atmosphere, where it pollutes our air, helps drive climate change-driven economic risks, and increases energy costs for families. Landfills are also a significant contributor of this pollution and are an emerging focus for state action.

Although much of the methane abatement work needed to address the climate and public health harms—particularly in the oil and gas sector—could be done at no net cost, the Trump Administration is considering rolling back methane mitigation rules for the fossil fuel industry, and the Department of Transportation has already canceled requirements to fix leaky natural gas pipelines. While a significant share of methane pollution comes from intentional releases, leaks alone waste over $1.5 billion worth of gas each year—losses that are passed on to consumers via higher energy bills.

Senate Environment and Public Works
562 Dirksen
07/24/2025 at 10:00AM

Full Committee Markup of Interior, Environment and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Acts

Full committee markup.

Interior and Environment Bill (S. 2431) Highlights:

  • Department of the Interior: $15.1 billion for supporting management of National Parks, Refuges, and Forests, conservation and energy development on public lands and waters, and tribal trust responsibilities.
  • National Park Service: $3.3 billion to support our nation’s parks, preserve historic sites, and sustain staffing capacity to address visitor services and park management needs.
  • Indian Affairs (BIA and BIE): $3.9 billion, including support for important public safety and justice services, community and economic development, and probate programs. Contract support costs (CSC) and tribal lease payments are fully funded.
  • Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): PILT is fully funded to provide communities in 49 states and in the territories compensation for lost tax revenues resulting from federal land ownership within their jurisdiction.
  • Wildland Fire Management: $6.4 billion is included for wildland fire management activities. Nearly $2.9 billion of this funding is made available through the wildfire suppression cap adjustment.
  • Environmental Protection Agency: $8.6 billion in grants and program funding, including $2.8 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds.
  • U.S. Forest Service: $8.6 billion, which includes $10 million in funding to address Spruce Budworm mitigation activities. The bill also includes an increase of funding for Cooperative Fire Assistance and $6 million in funding to support the Northeastern States Research Cooperative.
  • Indian Health Services: $8.1 billion, which includes funding for staffing new facilities and health care delivery services. CSC and tribal lease payments are fully funded and maintains advanced appropriations.
  • Smithsonian Institution and the Holocaust Museum: $1.1 billion, including an increase in funding for the Holocaust Museum for expanding educational opportunities.
  • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $207 million for each Endowment.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill (S. 2465) highlights:

  • Department of Transportation (DOT): $26.5 billion in discretionary budget authority.
  • Office of the Secretary: $1.1 billion, including $250 million for the BUILD grant program and $513.6 million for the Essential Air Service program.
  • Federal Aviation Administration: $22 billion, including $13.8 billion for Operations, $4 billion for Facilities and Equipment, $290 million for Research and Development, and $4 billion for Grants-in-Aid for Airports. This funding provides for an additional 2,500 new air traffic controllers and prioritizes investments to modernize outdated systems in our National Airspace.
  • Federal Highway Administration: $63.3 billion, including $350 million for a competitive Rural Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation program, $25 million for high priority Tribal transportation projects, and $10 million for the National Scenic Byways Program.
  • Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): $2.9 billion, including $2.4 billion for Amtrak, of which $1.6 billion is for the National Network, as well as $100 million is for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program. Additionally, $4.8 million is provided for FRA’s Close Call Reporting System, as well as funding for railroad trespass prevention and positive train control support.
  • Federal Transit Administration: $16.8 billion, including $1.9 billion for the Capital Investment Grants program, $1.1 billion for the bus and bus facilities program, and $55 million for the ferry program, which includes rural ferries.
  • Maritime Administration: $874 million, including $75 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $30 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards Grants. The bill also includes a total of $400 million for the Maritime Security Program, Cable Security Fleet, and Tanker Security Program, which are critical to national security. Additionally, $143 million is provided for State Maritime Academies and more than $160 million is provided for the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): $73.3 billion for rental assistance and self-sufficiency support for low-income working families, seniors, and the disabled; housing and services to homeless individuals; and support for economic and community development.
  • Office of Public and Indian Housing: $47.4 billion, including $37.4 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance, $8.4 billion for the Public Housing Fund, $211 million for self-sufficiency programs, and $1.4 billion for Native American/Native Hawaiian programs.
  • Office of Community Planning and Development: Nearly $11 billion, including $3.1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, $4.5 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $1.2 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, $70 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program, and $30 million for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act recovery housing program.
  • Office of Housing: $19 billion, including $17.8 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance, $972 million for Housing for the Elderly, and $265 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
  • Independent Agencies: $423.7 million, including $10 million for the Access Board, $40 million for the Federal Maritime Administration, $29.2 million for the Amtrak Inspector General, $145 million for the National Transportation Safety Board, $158 million for NeighborWorks, $40.8 million for the Surface Transportation Board, and $2 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Senate Appropriations Committee
106 Dirksen

07/24/2025 at 09:30AM

Proposals to Improve America’s Transportation Infrastructure

Subcommittee hearing

Witnesses:

  • Chad M. Orn, Deputy Director of Planning, North Dakota Department of Transportation
  • Marisa Jones, Managing Director, Policy and Partnerships, Safe Routes Partnership
  • Samantha Biddle, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
   Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee
562 Dirksen

07/23/2025 at 03:00PM

Nomination of Richard Fordyce to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation

Full committee hearing

Nominee:

  • Richard Fordyce, of Missouri, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.

Richard Fordyce previously served in the Trump administration as the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. His new role will oversee key agencies that directly serve farmers and ranchers, including the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA).

Fordyce joined Osborn Barr Paramore as business growth director after serving in Trump’s FSA.

In 2013, Fordyce was named Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture in December 2013 by Governor Jay Nixon. Other organizations that Fordyce has held leadership positions in include the National Biodiesel Board, the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow, University of Missouri Extension and the Northwest Missouri State Fair. He is also one of only three directors from Missouri on the United Soybean Board.

Fordyce and his wife, Renee, grow soybeans and corn as well as raise beef cattle on the family farm in Harrison County.

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
328A Russell

07/23/2025 at 03:00PM