U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) has secured the co-sponsorship of all 45 members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation on his Transportation Emergency Relief Funds Availability Act (H.R. 3193).
That legislation proposes to safeguard federal funding given for disaster-recovery transportation projects in California by repealing a two-year regulatory deadline and providing transportation up to six years to use such funds. It is a direct criticism of the Trump Administration, which has threatened to cease project funding extensions and withdraw awarded federal funds. Under the current U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, this is within the federal government’s right, so long as projects do not reach construction within two fiscal years of being awarded federal emergency relief funds.
“California’s Democratic Congressional Delegation is united in stopping the Trump Administration from clawing back disaster-recovery funding for highway and transportation projects across our state,” Garamendi said. “Californians are facing increasingly frequent and severe floods and wildfires due to climate change. They deserve nothing less than the full-throated support of their federal government, and that’s exactly what our bill ensures.”
As of January 2019, the Federal Highway Administration denied 66 of 73 1-year extension project requests made by the California Department of Transportation. While this is legal, it runs counter to previously routine granting of extensions under other administrations.
Under the new, six-year deadline proposed by the legislation, deadlines would be set following the date of disaster declaration set by either a state’s governor or by the president.