Statement by Paul Skoutelas, President & CEO
“The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its 1,500 member systems and businesses hail the United States Senate for adopting Jones-McSally
Amendment No. 1141 and passing H.R. 3055, the minibus appropriations bill that includes the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill. The Senate passed the Jones-McSally Amendment by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 82-11.
The Jones-McSally Amendment prevents a $1.2 billion cut to public transportation funding by blocking a 12 percent across-the-board
funding cut to every transit agency in the nation in fiscal year (FY) 2020.
APTA thanks Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) for offering this critical bipartisan amendment to protect public transit funding
from implementation of the Rostenkowski Test.
We also thank leaders of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, including Chairman Richard C. Shelby (R-AL), Vice Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Subcommittee
Chairman Susan M. Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Democratic Leader Charles
E. Schumer (D-NY) for their leadership and foresight in ensuring this critical provision to maintain public transportation investment received a Floor
vote. Finally, we thank Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH) of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
for their support of the amendment and dedication to public transit investment.
APTA remains committed to building a stronger and more interconnected transportation system across America and will continue to work with Congress and
the Administration to ensure adequate funding is available to maintain transit services and support critical projects that will repair, maintain and
improve our public transit systems today and in the future.”
For more information, please contact Chad Chitwood at [email protected].