▶ 0:31:21I call the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to order pursuant to Committee Rule 6F and House Rule 11 clause 2H F the chairman may postpone further proceedings today on any question of approving any measure matter or adopting an amendment in which a recorded vote of the yeas and nays is I'd ask unanimous consent that the chairman be authorized to declare a recess at any time during today's meeting and without objection that is so ordered. All rosters and texts have been distributed electronically and paper copies are also available here in the hearing room.
▶ 0:31:49As a reminder the committee may use an electronic voting system for any requested recorded votes. So, today the committee is approval of updated subcommittee rosters due to changes on the majority side, the fiscal year 2027 views and estimates of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and a General Services Administration capital investment and leasing program resolution. And finally, I'd ask unanimous consent for the committee to use an amendments roster for any items under consideration by the committee.
▶ 0:32:19Without objection that's so The first item for business today is approval of the revised subcommittee roster due to membership changes on the majority side. So, I call up the subcommittee rosters for consideration without objection the rosters will be considered as read and recognized. I recognize myself for a quick statement.
▶ 0:32:43Pursuant to House Resolution 1176, Congressman Clay Fuller of Georgia and Congressman Kevin Kiley of California were appointed to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I'm pleased to welcome the newest member of the House of Representatives, Congressman Clay Fuller from Northwest Georgia, to the Committee. Prior to his election, Congressman Fuller served as an officer in the United States Air Force and Georgia Air National Guard. He also served as a District Attorney for Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit.
▶ 0:33:12He's already had an eventful introduction to the Committee as he participated in our surface markup just a couple weeks ago. The revised rosters reflect the addition of Congressman Fuller to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Highways and Transit, and Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Congressman Kiley to the Subcommittees on Water Resources and Environment, Highways and Transit, Economic Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
▶ 0:33:39Congressman Kiley, we are glad to have you back on the Committee and Congressman Fuller, we look forward to working with you for the rest of for the rest of the Congress. Does anyone else wish to speak on the Seeing none, I'd ask unanimous consent for the approval of revised subcommittee rosters due to membership changes on the majority side and without objection, that is so ordered and the revised subcommittee rosters have been approved.
▶ 0:34:12The next item for consideration is the views and estimates of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for Fiscal Year 2027. And I call up the views and estimates and without objection the first reading is dispensed with. The views and estimates are now considered as read and open for amendment at any point. Recognize myself for a quick statement. The committee has been busy and productive during the 119th Congress.
▶ 0:34:38We've held 49 hearings and round tables, reported 53 bills out of committee, and 46 bills referred to the committee have been approved by the house. Most the committee favorably reported the BUILD Act 250 or the Building America 250 Act, a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization, which provides core infrastructure investments to the nation. This bill will advance our highways and railroads and contains the largest investment in bridges in the history of the United States.
▶ 0:35:08This critical bill also addresses the Highway Trust Fund fairness issue, strengthens the user fee foundation that was built upon, and provides new funding for the trust fund for the first time in over 30 years. I can't stress how important it was for that the committee acted to ensure that all users of the nation's highways begin paying into the Highway Trust Fund, not just the users who drive gas and diesel powered vehicles. And it provided this new funding mechanism to the Highway Trust Fund.
▶ 0:35:38Further, the committee helped deliver reconciliation legislation that provided historic investments to the United States Coast Guard for border and national security, as well as a down payment on the modernization of America's air traffic control system. And it will continue to be busy this Congress for the committee as we work together on a Water Resources Development Act, advance the committee's reported pipeline safety bill, FEMA reform and aviation safety legislation, and more.
▶ 0:36:06And I'm proud to say that we've advanced critical legislation in a bipartisan manner, and our hard work is paying off for the American people. I appreciate ranking member Larson for working with us on all these important items, as well as the Views and Estimates that we are considering today, and I'd urge my colleagues to support the Views and Estimates for fiscal year 2027. Now I recognize Rick.
▶ 0:36:29Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for working collaboratively on the budget views and estimates. We've had a productive session so far having drafted and passed the bipartisan alert act in the house and marking up a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill in this committee.
▶ 0:36:44We still have work to do for the remainder of Congress including working with the Senate to get the alert act enacted, getting the BUILD Act uh Build America 250 Act and the FEMA Act to the floor and enacted, and passing a bipartisan Water Resources Development Act or WRDA bill, as well as conducting our continuing oversight of the administration's air traffic control modernization efforts.
▶ 0:37:06These views and estimates, I believe, reflect our desire to continue working in a bipartisan and productive manner, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the FY 2027 budget views and estimates. With that, I yield back.
▶ 0:37:21Do any other members wish to be Seeing [snorts] no one, are there any amendments to the views and estimates for fiscal year 2027? Hearing none, the question is now on adopting and submitting the views and estimates for fiscal year 2027 to the House Committee on Budget. All those in favor, signify by saying "Aye."
▶ 0:37:42All opposed, signify by saying "Nay." The ayes have it, and the views and estimates for fiscal year 2027 are Pursuant to House Rule 10, clause 4, I'd ask unanimous consent that fiscal year 2027 views and estimates as adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be submitted to the Committee on Budget. Without objection, that is so ordered.
▶ 0:38:10Our last item for consideration is a resolution for a project in the General Services Administration's capital investment and leasing program, and I'd ask unanimous consent to call up the It is now considered as read and open for amendment at any point without That is so ordered. Recognize myself quickly for a statement.
▶ 0:38:31So, the GSA resolution that we're considering today is an alter or alteration project of the GSA's This prospectus will allow GSA and OPM to consolidate into one building. This continues the committee's efforts to shrink the federal footprint reducing the taxpayer's liability and ensure that space usage is consistent with the requirements set in the public buildings reforms that we enacted in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.
▶ 0:39:01In fact, GSA has informed the committee that this prospectus would boost the building rate by over 80% and I want to thank subcommittee chairman Perry for his work on ensuring that this project makes sense to the taxpayers. With that, I urge my committee to support the resolution and recognize Rick for his statement. [clears throat]
▶ 0:39:22Thank you, Mr. Chair. I support the GSA's resolution before us today which provides the GSA with the authority to renovate its headquarters building located at 1800 F Street Northwest in the in the capital. 1800 F Street was constructed for the Department of Interior in 1917 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
▶ 0:39:45Between 2009 and 2013, GSA used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to renovate elevator, mechanical, plumbing, and life safety systems in 60% of the building. But, the remaining 40% of the building has been empty due to poor ventilation. In 2026, FY 2026 that is, GSA submitted the prospectus before us today which provide GSA with $239 million to dollars to complete the renovations.
▶ 0:40:13GSA plans to keep this building in its inventory and and collocate the office of personnel management there. According to GSA, once GSA and OPM are in the building, the utilization rate will exceed 80%. So, I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same and with that yield back.
▶ 0:40:31Does anyone else wish to be recognized on the GSA resolution? Seeing no further speakers, are there any amendments to the GSA resolution? Hearing none, the question is now on the adoption of the GSA resolution. All those in favor signify by saying I. All opposed signify by saying nay. The need of the chair, the eyes have it. The GSA resolution is agreed to and Thank you everyone for participating today.
▶ 0:40:59Pursuant to committee rule six of the rules of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I note the presence of a quorum for actions taken on all committee business today. I'd ask unanimous consent that the staff be authorized to make all necessary technical, clarifying, and conforming changes to each item adopted today to reflect the actions of the Without objection, that is so ordered. Remind members that we're about to transition into an aviation subcommittee hearing. Please allow staff just a moment to prepare the hearing room for the next uh committee activity.
▶ 0:41:29And with that, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has completed its administrative and organizational for the day. The committee stands