WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled its subcommittee roster for the 114th Congress, and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) was named the top Democrat on the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee. 

The THUD subcommittee controls funding for several federal agencies within the U.S. Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), as well as the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development.  It also oversees numerous programs that are vital to Rhode Island, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), TIGER grants, Section 8 project-based rental assistance (PBRA), and HUD-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH).

Reed will serve alongside the Chairman of the subcommittee, Susan Collins (R-ME).

“This assignment is good news for Rhode Island and puts me in an even stronger position to advocate for the state’s interests.  I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis with Chairman Collins to improve our transportation infrastructure and accelerate economic growth,” said Reed.  “This subcommittee plays a critical role on a variety of key issues, from transportation to affordable rental housing to looking out for homeless veterans.  I want to ensure Rhode Islanders have a voice when it comes to our national transportation and housing priorities.  And I want to continue helping Rhode Island’s economy by focusing on efforts to help the state upgrade our roads and bridges, as well as our airports, railways, and ports.”

In the next Congress, which starts in January, Senator Reed will be the 17th most senior member in the chamber, and the 9th most senior Democrat. 

“I want to thank Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) for her leadership, and I also look forward to working closely with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and HUD Secretary Julián Castro.  All three of them have come to Rhode Island in the past year and each of them understands what an important economic engine transportation and housing are to our state and the nation,” said Reed.

In order to take the Ranking Member slot on THUD, Reed relinquishes his top spot on the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.  From that perch, Reed led the successful effort to create a National Historical Park in Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley, and to make strategic investments in America’s natural, scientific, and cultural resources.

As Chairman of the Interior & Environment Subcommittee, Reed helped write key sections of the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which sets aside $30.44 billion for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.  As a result, the U.S. Department of the Interior will receive $10.65 billion, including $2.61 billion for the National Park Service and $1.44 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Reed also included $8.14 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Included in the funding for EPA is $1.4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $907 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which helps create jobs and provide clean water to communities throughout the country by supporting water infrastructure modernization projects. 

Reed recently announced his intention to be the Ranking Member on the Armed Services Committee, where he will serve alongside Chairman John McCain (R-AZ).  In this capacity, he and Senator McCain also become ex officio members of the Intelligence Committee.

Reed is also the most senior member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.  However, due to Senate rules, members may only take the top spot on one full committee at a time.

The last Rhode Islander to lead a full U.S. Senate Committee was John H. Chafee (R-RI), who served as Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works up until 1999.  And Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) served as the Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee when he left office in January of 1997.

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