Urgent Action Needed
Urge Your Members of Congress
to Fully Fund Public Transit and Passenger Rail
In July, both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations marked up the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (THUD Appropriations bill).
The House THUD Appropriations bill (H.R. 4522) significantly cuts public transit and passenger rail investment. It cuts public transit investment by $1.7 billion and passenger rail investment by $2.6 billion from FY 2025 funding levels. The House THUD Appropriations bill passed on a party-line vote of 35-28. View APTA’s Legislative Alert on the House THUD Appropriations bill.
Conversely, the Senate THUD Appropriations bill (S. 2465) increases public transit investment and maintains passenger rail funding. The bill provides $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail. It increases public transit investment by $203.3 million from FY 2025 funding levels and maintains current passenger rail funding. The Senate THUD Appropriations bill passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 27-1. View APTA’s Legislative Update on the Senate THUD Appropriations bill.
APTA strongly encourages you to urge your Representatives and Senators to fully fund public transit and passenger rail in the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill.
Here are four things you can do to make a difference:
Join APTA’s Advocacy Campaign Now
We ask you to join APTA’s email advocacy campaign now. APTA is focusing its advocacy efforts on urging Congress to provide $22.3 billion for public transit and $21 billion for passenger rail. At minimum, the final THUD Appropriations Act should adopt the Senate-proposed funding of $21.1 billion for public transit and $16.2 billion for passenger rail.
Congress must reject the House provisions that slash Capital Investment Grants to the lowest level in almost 30 years and cut $2.8 billion from Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants.
To send a pre-written APTA message to your Representatives and Senators, visit the APTA Advocacy Campaign Action Center.
Host your Members of Congress in August
During Congress’ August recess, APTA strongly encourages you to meet with your Members of Congress and show them first-hand how this public transportation investment works for everyone. APTA has prepared a Site Visit Toolkit to help you effectively plan, organize, and execute an event with your elected officials, including providing sample social media posts for maximum impact.
View Public Transit Investment Talking Points.
View Passenger Rail Investment Talking Points.
View Key Regulatory Streamlining Proposals Talking Points.
View APTA’s Site Visit Toolkit.
Register for APTA Legislative Advocacy Fly-In
Register now for APTA’s 2025 Legislative Advocacy Fly-In for a day of in-person meetings on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, to urge Members of Congress to fully fund public transit and passenger rail investments. Your voice is instrumental as Congress advances the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill, the next Surface Transportation Authorization Act, and other critical legislation. APTA will schedule in-person meetings on your behalf with Members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill on October 22.
The Fly-In is free to all APTA members and is financed by the APTA Business Member Activity Fund.
If you have any questions on the Fly-In, please email Jillian Kinder, Legislative Representative, Government Affairs and Advocacy.
Register for APTA Legislative Advocacy Fly-In.
Use APTA’s Advocacy Tools
It has never been more important to make the case to Congress for public transportation investment. That is why we have created a one-stop shop explaining key advocacy tools, such as our APTA Industry Footprint and My Economic Impact tool, for APTA members to engage with their Members of Congress both on Capitol Hill and in their Congressional Districts and States.
APTA’s Industry Footprint is a great tool to share with Members of Congress to show how many riders utilize public transportation; recent major grant awards; and the manufacturing, construction, and engineering firms advancing public transportation projects in each Congressional District and State. The My Economic Impact tool uses your public transit agency’s budget data to calculate the economic impact of your transit service.
