Office of the Secretary

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, $185,965,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That the Secretary is authorized to transfer funds appropriated under this heading among the purposes specified in the first proviso under this heading: Provided further, That such transfers combined shall not increase or decrease the amount appropriated for any purpose specified in the first proviso under this heading by more than 4 percent: Provided further, That notice of any change in funding greater than 4 percent shall be submitted for approval to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not later than 7 business days in advance of any such change: Provided further, That not to exceed $70,000 shall be for allocation within the Department for official reception and representation expenses as the Secretary may determine: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, there may be credited to this appropriation up to $2,500,000 in funds received in user fees.

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

For necessary expenses related to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, $32,705,000, of which $21,000,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided, That of such amounts that are available until expended, $9,000,000 shall be for necessary expenses of the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Infrastructure (ARPA–I) as authorized by section 119 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That within the funds made available under the preceding proviso, not less than $6,000,000 shall be available for research on durability, resiliency, and sustainability of bridges and other infrastructure and shall be directed to an accredited university of higher education in the northeast United States that has experience leading a regional university transportation center and a proven record of developing, patenting, deploying, and commercializing innovative composite materials and technologies for bridge and other transportation applications, as well as conducting research and developing prototypes using very large-scale polymer-based additive manufacturing: Provided further, That of such amounts that are available until expended, $4,000,000 shall be for the Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence as authorized in section 105 of title I of division H of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116–94): Provided further, That of such amounts that are available until expended, $3,000,000 shall be for activities relating to complementary positioning, navigation, and timing technologies demonstrations as identified in the U.S. Department of Transportation Complementary PNT Action Plan (March 2024): Provided further, That there may be credited to this appropriation, to be available until expended, funds received from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred for training: Provided further, That any reference in law, regulation, judicial proceedings, or elsewhere to the Research and Innovative Technology Administration shall continue to be deemed to be a reference to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology of the Department of Transportation.

National Infrastructure Investments

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For necessary expenses to carry out a local and regional project assistance grant program under section 6702 of title 49, United States Code, $250,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That section 6702(f)(2) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to amounts made available under this heading in this Act: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act, not less than 5 percent shall be awarded to projects in historically disadvantaged communities or areas of persistent poverty as defined under section 6702(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That grants awarded under this heading in this Act for eligible projects for planning, preparation, or design shall not be subject to a minimum grant size: Provided further, That in distributing amounts made available under this heading in this Act, the Secretary shall take such measures so as to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of funds, an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, including Tribal areas, and the investment in a variety of transportation modes: Provided further, That for amounts made available under this heading in this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that require a contribution of Federal funds in order to complete an overall financing package: Provided further, That section 6702(f)(1) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to amounts made available under this heading in this Act: Provided further, That of the amounts awarded under this heading in this Act, not more than 50 percent shall be allocated for eligible projects located in rural areas and not more than 50 percent shall be allocated for eligible projects located in urbanized areas: Provided further, That for the purpose of determining if an award for planning, preparation, or design under this heading in this Act is an urban award, the project location is the location of the project being planned, prepared, or designed: Provided further, That the Secretary may retain up to 2 percent of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act, and may transfer portions of such amounts to the Administrators of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Maritime Administration to fund the award and oversight of grants and credit assistance made under the program authorized under section 6702 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That for amounts made available under this heading in this Act, the Secretary shall consider and award projects based solely on the selection criteria as identified under section 6702(d)(3) and (d)(4) of title 49, United States Code.

NATIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AND INNOVATIVE FINANCE BUREAU

For necessary expenses of the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 116, $9,850,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary may collect and spend fees, as authorized by title 23, United States Code, to cover the costs of services of expert firms, including counsel, in the field of municipal and project finance to assist in the underwriting and servicing of Federal credit instruments and all or a portion of the costs to the Federal Government of servicing such credit instruments: Provided further, That such fees are available until expended to pay for such costs: Provided further, That such amounts are in addition to other amounts made available for such purposes and are not subject to any obligation limitation or the limitation on administrative expenses under section 608 of title 23, United States Code.

RURAL AND TRIBAL INFRASTRUCTURE ADVANCEMENT

For necessary expenses to carry out rural and Tribal infrastructure advancement as authorized in section 21205 of Public Law 117–58, $10,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with philanthropic entities, non-profit organizations, other Federal agencies, State or local governments and their agencies, Indian Tribes, or other technical assistance providers, to provide such technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to State, local, or Tribal governments, United States territories, metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, or other political subdivisions of State or local governments.

RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING PROGRAM

The Secretary is authorized to issue direct loans and loan guarantees pursuant to chapter 224 of title 49, United States Code, and such authority shall exist as long as any such direct loan or loan guarantee is outstanding.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CAPITAL

For necessary expenses for upgrading and enhancing the Department of Transportation's financial systems and re-engineering business processes, $5,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2027.

CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVES

For necessary expenses for cyber security initiatives, including necessary upgrades to network and information technology infrastructure, improvement of identity management and authentication capabilities, securing and protecting data, implementation of Federal cyber security initiatives, and implementation of enhanced security controls on agency computers and mobile devices, $60,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027.

OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS

For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $12,228,000.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For necessary expenses for conducting transportation planning, research, systems development, development activities, and making grants, $34,259,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of such amount, $5,436,000 shall be for necessary expenses of the Interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center (IIPIC): Provided further, That there may be transferred to this appropriation, to remain available until expended, amounts transferred from other Federal agencies for expenses incurred under this heading for IIPIC activities not related to transportation infrastructure: Provided further, That the tools and analysis developed by the IIPIC shall be available to other Federal agencies for the permitting and review of major infrastructure projects not related to transportation only to the extent that other Federal agencies provide funding to the Department in accordance with the preceding proviso: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, $9,647,000 shall be made available for the projects, and in the amounts, specified for congressionally directed spending in the table entitled Congressionally Directed Spending included in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That amounts made available in the preceding proviso for such projects shall not diminish or prejudice any application or geographic region for other discretionary grant or loan awards made by the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, $2,000,000 shall be made available for an independent review of airspace design, civil-military coordination, and operational safety in the National Capital Region, with particular focus on airspace activities at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

WORKING CAPITAL FUND

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For necessary expenses for operating costs and capital outlays of the Working Capital Fund as authorized in section 327 of title 49, United States Code, not to exceed $650,000,000, shall be paid from appropriations made available to the Department of Transportation: Provided, That such services shall be provided on a competitive basis to entities within the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That the limitation under this heading on operating expenses shall not apply to entities external to the Department of Transportation or for funds provided in Public Law 117–58: Provided further, That no funds made available by this Act to an agency of the Department shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund without majority approval of the Working Capital Fund Steering Committee and approval of the Secretary: Provided further, That no assessments may be levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity, or project funded by this Act unless notice of such assessments and the basis therefor are presented to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and are approved by such Committees: Provided further, That the Secretary may provide non-commodity information technology services in a consolidated or shared manner for operating administrations through the Working Capital Fund: Provided further, That the preceding proviso shall not apply to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the Office of Inspector General: Provided further, That an operating administration may determine that certain non-commodity information technology services do not provide a direct benefit to the operating administration and shall not be required to obligate funds appropriated by this Act to the Office of the Secretary pursuant to section 188 of this Act: Provided further, That if the determination in the preceding proviso concludes that non-commodity information technology services do not provide a direct benefit to the operating administration, those services shall remain within the operating administration: Provided further, That not less than 30 days prior to using the authority provided in the preceding four provisos, the Secretary shall provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a plan describing the non-commodity information technology services consolidated or shared through the Working Capital Fund: Provided further, That the Secretary shall provide quarterly briefings to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on all activities relating to non-commodity information technology services as authorized under this heading: Provided further, That unless otherwise specified under this heading, the Working Capital Fund shall only deliver services consisting of administration and commodity information technology: Provided further, That the departmental consolidation of activities including human resources, procurement, governmental affairs, public affairs and public engagement, and civil rights are prohibited: Provided further, That amounts within the Working Capital Fund are not available to provide services not specifically authorized under this heading.

SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION AND OUTREACH

For necessary expenses for small and disadvantaged business utilization and outreach activities, $5,330,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That not less than 11 small business transportation resource centers shall be maintained and operated: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 332 of title 49, United States Code, such amounts may be used for business opportunities related to any mode of transportation: Provided further, That appropriations made available under this heading shall be available for any purpose consistent with prior year appropriations that were made available under the heading Office of the Secretary—Minority Business Resource Center Program.

PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS

(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

In addition to funds made available from any other source to carry out the essential air service program under sections 41731 through 41742 of title 49, United States Code, $513,637,231, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to remain available until expended: Provided, That in determining between or among carriers competing to provide service to a community, the Secretary may consider the relative subsidy requirements of the carriers: Provided further, That basic essential air service minimum requirements shall not include the 15-passenger capacity requirement under section 41732(b)(3) of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That amounts authorized to be distributed for the essential air service program under section 41742(b) of title 49, United States Code, shall be made available immediately from amounts otherwise provided to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration: Provided further, That the Administrator may reimburse such amounts from fees credited to the account established under section 45303 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That, notwithstanding section 41733 of title 49, United States Code, for fiscal year 2026, the requirements established under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 41731(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to maintain eligibility under section 41731 of title 49, United States Code.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Sec. 101.

None of the funds made available by this Act to the Department of Transportation may be obligated for the Office of the Secretary of Transportation to approve assessments or reimbursable agreements pertaining to funds appropriated to the operating administrations in this Act, except for activities underway on the date of enactment of this Act, unless such assessments or agreements have completed the normal reprogramming process for congressional notification.

Sec. 102.

The Secretary shall post on the website of the Department of Transportation a schedule of all meetings of the Council on Credit and Finance, including the agenda for each meeting, and require the Council on Credit and Finance to record the decisions and actions of each meeting.

Sec. 103.

In addition to authority provided by section 327 of title 49, United States Code, the Department’s Working Capital Fund is authorized to provide partial or full payments in advance and accept subsequent reimbursements from all Federal agencies from available funds for transit benefit distribution services that are necessary to carry out the Federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program under Executive Order No. 13150 and section 3049 of SAFETEA–LU (5 U.S.C. 7905 note): Provided, That the Department shall maintain a reasonable operating reserve in the Working Capital Fund, to be expended in advance to provide uninterrupted transit benefits to Government employees: Provided further, That such reserve shall not exceed 1 month of benefits payable and may be used only for the purpose of providing for the continuation of transit benefits: Provided further, That the Working Capital Fund shall be fully reimbursed by each customer agency from available funds for the actual cost of the transit benefit.

Sec. 104.

Receipts collected in the Department’s Working Capital Fund, as authorized by section 327 of title 49, United States Code, for unused transit and van pool benefits, in an amount not to exceed 10 percent of fiscal year 2026 collections, shall be available until expended in the Department’s Working Capital Fund to provide contractual services in support of section 189 of this Act: Provided, That obligations in fiscal year 2026 of such collections shall not exceed $1,000,000.

Sec. 105.

None of the funds in this title may be obligated or expended for retention or senior executive bonuses for an employee of the Department of Transportation without the prior written approval of the Assistant Secretary for Administration.

Sec. 106.

In addition to authority provided by section 327 of title 49, United States Code, the Department's Administrative Working Capital Fund is hereby authorized to transfer information technology equipment, software, and systems from departmental sources or other entities and collect and maintain a reserve at rates which will return full cost of transferred assets.

Sec. 107.

None of the funds provided in this Act to the Department of Transportation may be used to provide credit assistance unless not less than 3 days before any application approval to provide credit assistance under sections 603 and 604 of title 23, United States Code, the Secretary provides notification in writing to the following committees: the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations; the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives: Provided, That such notification shall include, but not be limited to, the name of the project sponsor; a description of the project; whether credit assistance will be provided as a direct loan, loan guarantee, or line of credit; and the amount of credit assistance.

Sec. 108.

The Secretary of Transportation may transfer amounts awarded to a federally recognized Tribe under a funding agreement entered into under part 29 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, from the Department of Transportation’s operating administrations to the Office of Tribal Government Affairs: Provided, That any amounts retroceded or reassumed under such part may be transferred back to the appropriate operating administration.

Sec. 109.

Sec. 109A.

For amounts provided for this fiscal year and prior fiscal years, section 24112(c)(2)(B) of Public Law 117–58 shall be applied by substituting 30 percent for 40 percent: Provided, That if the Secretary determines that there are insufficient merit-worthy applications for the amounts provided for fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2026 in division J of Public Law 117–58 for competitive grants as authorized in section 24112 of division B of Public Law 117–58 to meet the requirement in section 24112(c)(2)(B) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the unutilized amounts to make other grants as authorized in section 24112 of division B of Public Law 117–58: Provided further, That amounts repurposed pursuant to this section shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5.

Sec. 109B.

The Secretary may transfer up to $1,641,000 from amounts made available under the heading Office of the Secretary—Salaries and Expenses to the Department’s operating administrations for rent payments: Provided, That such amounts transferred for rent payments that are no longer needed may be transferred back to such account.

Sec. 109C.

The remaining unobligated balances, as of September 30, 2026, from amounts made available for Department of Transportation—Office of the Secretary—National Infrastructure Investments in division J of Public Law 117–58 for local and regional project assistance under section 6702 of title 49, United States Code, for fiscal year 2022 are hereby permanently rescinded, and an amount of additional new budget authority equivalent to the amount rescinded pursuant to this section is hereby appropriated on September 30, 2026, for an additional amount for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until September 30, 2031, and shall be available, without additional competition, for completing the funding of awards made pursuant to section 6702 of title 49, United States Code, for fiscal year 2022 funding, in addition to other funds as may be available for such purposes: Provided, That the amounts rescinded pursuant to this section that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, and to section 251(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to 4001(a)(1) of S. Con. Res 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022, and to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives: Provided further, That the amount of additional new budget authority is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to such section 4001(a) and to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives.

Sec. 109D.

None of the funds made available by this or any other Act shall be used to cancel or seek to renegotiate an existing contract under the essential air service program under subchapter II of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, before the standard period of rebidding occurring prior to a contract’s expiration unless in response to an explicit written request from the EAS Community. Provided, That this section shall only apply to existing contracts under which the carrier is in compliance with the contract terms.

Sec. 109E.

Of the unobligated balances of funds remaining from—

Sec. 109F.

Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available for Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program in section 420 of title IV of division G of Public Law 116–6, $25,476 is hereby permanently rescinded.

Sec. 109G.

Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available for Department of Transportation—Office of the Secretary—Salaries and Expenses in Public Law 119–4, $20,000,000 is hereby permanently rescinded.

Federal Aviation Administration

OPERATIONS

(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

For necessary expenses of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), not otherwise provided for, including operations and research activities related to commercial space transportation, administrative expenses for research and development, establishment of air navigation facilities, the operation (including leasing) and maintenance of aircraft, subsidizing the cost of aeronautical charts and maps sold to the public, the lease or purchase of passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, $13,818,183,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, of which $13,127,000,000 to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund: Provided, That of the amounts made available under this heading—

Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, not less than $9,700,420,000 shall be for the level specified for Salaries and Benefits in the FY 2026 Request column in Exhibit II–5 of the FAA’s FY 2026 President’s Budget Submission, as submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on May 30, 2025: Provided further, That not to exceed 3 percent of any budget activity, except for aviation safety budget activity, may be transferred to any budget activity under this heading: Provided further, That no transfer may increase or decrease any appropriation under this heading by more than 3 percent: Provided further, That any transfer in excess of 3 percent shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 405 of this Act and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that section: Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the submission of the budget request, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall transmit to Congress an annual update to the report submitted to Congress in December 2004 pursuant to section 221 of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 44506 note): Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading shall be reduced by $100,000 for each day after 30 days after the submission of the budget request that such report has not been transmitted to Congress: Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the submission of the budget request, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a companion report that describes a comprehensive strategy for staffing, hiring, and training flight standards and aircraft certification staff in a format similar to the one utilized for the controller staffing plan, including stated attrition estimates and numerical hiring goals by fiscal year: Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading shall be reduced by $100,000 for each day after the date that is 30 days after the submission of the budget request that such report has not been transmitted to Congress: Provided further, That not later than 60 days after the submission of the budget request, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a companion report that describes a comprehensive strategy for staffing, hiring, and training airways transportation systems specialists in a format similar to the one utilized for the controller staffing plan, including stated attrition estimates and numerical hiring goals by fiscal year: Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading shall be reduced by $100,000 for each day after the date that is 60 days after the submission of the budget request that such report has not been submitted to Congress: Provided further, That funds may be used to enter into a grant agreement with a nonprofit standard-setting organization to assist in the development of aviation safety standards: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act shall be available for new applicants for the second career training program: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act shall be available for the Federal Aviation Administration to finalize or implement any regulation that would promulgate new aviation user fees not specifically authorized by law after the date of the enactment of this Act: Provided further, That there may be credited to this appropriation, as offsetting collections, funds received from States, counties, municipalities, foreign authorities, other public authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred in the provision of agency services, including receipts for the maintenance and operation of air navigation facilities, and for issuance, renewal or modification of certificates, including airman, aircraft, and repair station certificates, or for tests related thereto, or for processing major repair or alteration forms: Provided further, That not later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report on all expenditures related to the contract tower program from the most recent fiscal year, including a breakout for administrative costs, contract support expenses, insurance, equipment procured and installed in contract towers, new starts, and aggregate payments for operating the contract towers: Provided further, That not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report on the FAA's ongoing efforts and future plans to equip contract towers with radar displays and other technology that the FAA believes are necessary to enhance aviation safety: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act for aeronautical charting and cartography are available for activities conducted by, or coordinated through, the Working Capital Fund: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act or any other Act may be used to eliminate the contract weather observers program at any airport.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for acquisition, establishment, technical support services, improvement by contract or purchase, and hire of national airspace systems and experimental facilities and equipment, as authorized under part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, including initial acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; engineering and service testing, including construction of test facilities and acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; construction and furnishing of quarters and related accommodations for officers and employees of the Federal Aviation Administration stationed at remote localities where such accommodations are not available; and the purchase, lease, or transfer of aircraft from funds made available under this heading, including aircraft for aviation regulation and certification; to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, $4,000,000,000, of which $670,000,000 is for personnel and related expenses and shall remain available until September 30, 2027, and $3,330,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the sums appropriated under this heading in this Act shall be made available for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified for spending in the table entitled Allocation of FAA Facilities and Equipment Funding in This Act—Fiscal Year 2026 included in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That the sums appropriated under this heading in title VIII of division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) shall be made available for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified for spending in the table entitled Allocation of FAA Facilities and Equipment Funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—Fiscal Year 2026 included in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That amounts repurposed pursuant to the preceding proviso shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5: Provided further, That there may be credited to this appropriation funds received from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources, for expenses incurred in the establishment, improvement, and modernization of national airspace systems: Provided further, That not later than 30 days after submission of the budget request, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit to the Congress an investment plan for the Federal Aviation Administration which includes funding for each budget line item for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with total funding for each year of the plan constrained to the funding targets for those years as estimated and approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT

(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for research, engineering, and development, as authorized under part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, including construction of experimental facilities and acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant, $290,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That there may be credited to this appropriation as offsetting collections, funds received from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources, which shall be available for expenses incurred for research, engineering, and development: Provided further, That the sums appropriated under this heading shall be made available for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table entitled Research, Engineering, and Development included in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, $30,000,000 shall be for aviation workforce development programs, as authorized under section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, as amended (49 U.S.C. 40132 note): Provided further, That of the amounts set aside under the preceding proviso, $20,000,000, to remain available until expended, for manufacturing workforce grants as authorized under section 625 (a)(3) and $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for not more than two community colleges that are sponsors of a general aviation airport identified in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems: Provided further, That grants awarded in the previous proviso for community colleges shall be awarded for an amount not less than $5,000,000 per award: Provided further, That the Secretary shall award such grant under the preceding proviso notwithstanding section 625(b)(2) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, as amended (49 U.S.C. 40132 note).

GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For liquidation of obligations incurred for grants-in-aid for airport planning and development, and noise compatibility planning and programs as authorized under subchapter I of chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 of title 49, United States Code, and under other law authorizing such obligations; for procurement, installation, and commissioning of runway incursion prevention devices and systems at airports of such title; for grants authorized under section 41743 of title 49, United States Code; and for inspection activities and administration of airport safety programs, including those related to airport operating certificates under section 44706 of title 49, United States Code, $4,000,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until expended: Provided, That none of the amounts made available under this heading shall be available for the planning or execution of programs the obligations for which are in excess of $4,000,000,000, in fiscal year 2026, notwithstanding section 47117(g) of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That none of the amounts made available under this heading shall be available for the replacement of baggage conveyor systems, reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, or other airport improvements that are necessary to install bulk explosive detection systems: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 47109(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Government's share of allowable project costs under paragraph (2) of such section for subgrants or paragraph (3) of such section shall be 95 percent for a project at other than a large or medium hub airport that is a successive phase of a multi-phased construction project for which the project sponsor received a grant in fiscal year 2011 for the construction project: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, of amounts limited under this heading, not less than $160,000,000 shall be available for administration, $15,000,000 shall be available for the airport cooperative research program, $41,827,000 shall be available for the airport technology research program and of which, $6,000,000 shall be available for the airfield technology program authorized under section 1014 of Public Law 118–63, of which $3,000,000 is for concrete pavement research and $3,000,000 is for asphalt pavement research, and $15,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be available and transferred to Office of the Secretary, Salaries and Expenses to carry out the small community air service development program: Provided further, That in addition to airports eligible under section 41743 of title 49, United States Code, such program may include the participation of an airport that serves a community or consortium that is not larger than a small hub airport, according to Federal Aviation Administration hub classifications effective at the time the Office of the Secretary issues a request for proposals.

GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS

For an additional amount for Grants-In-Aid for Airports, to enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants for projects as authorized by subchapter 1 of chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, subchapter 1 of chapter 475 of such title, and section 767 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118–63), $319,368,000, to remain available through September 30, 2028: Provided, That amounts made available under this heading shall be derived from the general fund, and such funds shall not be subject to apportionment formulas, special apportionment categories, or minimum percentages under chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations for the Grants-in-Aid for Airports program set forth in any Act: Provided further, That the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may retain up to 1 percent of the amounts made available under this heading to fund the award and oversight by the Administrator of grants made under this heading: Provided further, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 110.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to compensate in excess of 600 technical staff-years under the federally funded research and development center contract between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development during fiscal year 2026.

Sec. 111.

None of the funds made available by this Act shall be used to pursue or adopt guidelines or regulations requiring airport sponsors to provide to the Federal Aviation Administration without cost building construction, maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in airport sponsor-owned buildings for services relating to air traffic control, air navigation, or weather reporting: Provided, That the prohibition on the use of funds in this section does not apply to negotiations between the agency and airport sponsors to achieve agreement on below-market rates for these items or to grant assurances that require airport sponsors to provide land without cost to the Federal Aviation Administration for air traffic control facilities.

Sec. 112.

The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may reimburse amounts made available to satisfy section 41742(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, from fees credited under section 45303 of title 49, United States Code, and any amount remaining in such account at the close of any fiscal year may be made available to satisfy section 41742(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, for the subsequent fiscal year.

Sec. 113.

Amounts collected under section 40113(e) of title 49, United States Code, shall be credited to the appropriation current at the time of collection, to be merged with and available for the same purposes as such appropriation.

Sec. 114.

None of the funds made available by this Act shall be available for paying premium pay under section 5546(a) of title 5, United States Code, to any Federal Aviation Administration employee unless such employee actually performed work during the time corresponding to such premium pay.

Sec. 115.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be obligated or expended for an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration to purchase a store gift card or gift certificate through use of a Government-issued credit card.

Sec. 116.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available under this Act or any prior Act may be used to implement or to continue to implement any limitation on the ability of any owner or operator of a private aircraft to obtain, upon a request to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, a blocking of that owner's or operator's aircraft registration number, Mode S transponder code, flight identification, call sign, or similar identifying information from any ground based display to the public that would allow the real-time or near real-time flight tracking of that aircraft’s movements, except data made available to a Government agency, for the noncommercial flights of that owner or operator.

Sec. 117.

None of the funds made available by this Act shall be available for salaries and expenses of more than nine political and Presidential appointees in the Federal Aviation Administration: Provided, That of the nine political and Presidential appointee positions in the Federal Aviation Administration, not less than one position shall be within each of the following offices and no appointee shall be in any other office: the Office of the Administrator, the Office of the Deputy Administrator, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Government and Industry Affairs, the Office of Communications, the Office of Airports, and the Office for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment.

Sec. 118.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to increase fees pursuant to section 44721 of title 49, United States Code, until the Federal Aviation Administration provides to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report that justifies all fees related to aeronautical navigation products and explains how such fees are consistent with Executive Order No. 13642.

Sec. 119.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to close or relocate a regional operations center of the Federal Aviation Administration or reduce its services or personnel unless the Administrator notifies the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 90 full business days in advance.

Sec. 119A.

None of the funds made available by or limited by this Act may be used to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro airport in Teterboro, New Jersey.

Sec. 119B.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to withhold from consideration and approval any new application for participation in the contract tower program, or for reevaluation of cost-share program participants so long as the Federal Aviation Administration has received an application from the airport, and so long as the Administrator determines such tower is eligible using the factors set forth in Federal Aviation Administration published establishment criteria.

Sec. 119C.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to open, close, redesignate as a lesser office, or reorganize a regional office, the aeronautical center, or the technical center unless the Administrator submits a request for the reprogramming of funds under section 405 of this Act.

Sec. 119D.

Section 44502(e) of title 49, United States Code, shall be applied by inserting the following after paragraph (4):

(5) Limitations

(A) Systems or equipment

Eligible air traffic systems or equipment identified in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (3) of this subsection to be transferred to the Administrator under this subsection must have been purchased by the transferor airport on or after October 5, 2018.

(B) Other systems or equipment

Eligible air traffic systems or equipment identified in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) of this subsection to be transferred to the Administrator under this subsection must have been purchased by the transferor airport on or after October 1, 2024.

(6) Airports classified as a basic or local general aviation airport

An airport that is categorized as a basic or local general aviation airport under the most recently published national plan of integrated airport systems under section 47103 may only transfer an eligible air traffic system or equipment under this subsection in accordance with the exception provided in paragraph (4) if such system or equipment was purchased by the transferor airport on or after October 1, 2024.

Sec. 119E.

None of the funds in this or any other Act shall be used to plan, design, or implement the privatization or separation of the air traffic organization functions of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Sec. 119F.

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act may be used for the construction of a new Air Traffic Control Training Academy except for the Federal Aviation Administration’s existing Training Academy located at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.

Sec. 119G.

Notwithstanding section 40122(c) of title 49, United States Code, for this year and thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in consultation with the Federal Air Surgeon, may increase the annual rate of basic pay for positions in the Office of Aerospace Medicine requiring a medical degree up to the annual compensation paid under section 102 of title 3, United States Code.

Sec. 119H.

The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration is directed to provide a spend plan and a briefing within 30 days of enactment of this Act, and each month thereafter during fiscal year 2026, to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on all activities and efforts funded by this Act and section 40003 of Public Law 119–21 for the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control modernization efforts: Provided, That the Administrator shall make available for each briefing the Federal Aviation Administration’s Chief Financial Officer and the Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment, and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Organization’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer.

Federal Highway Administration

LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Not to exceed $507,435,977 together with advances and reimbursements received by the Federal Highway Administration, shall be obligated for necessary expenses for administration and operation of the Federal Highway Administration: Provided, That in addition, $3,248,000 shall be transferred to the Appalachian Regional Commission in accordance with section 104(a) of title 23, United States Code.

FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

Funds available for the implementation or execution of authorized Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs shall not exceed total obligations of $62,657,105,821 for fiscal year 2026: Provided, That the limitation on obligations under this heading shall only apply to contract authority authorized from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), unless otherwise specified in law: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading for the Highway Research and Development Program, $8,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for research leading to sustainable stormwater management technologies and techniques to reduce the impacts of 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone on salmon-bearing streams: Provided further, That the Federal Highway Administration shall implement this research as specified under the heading Stormwater Management in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading for the Highway Research and Development Program, $5,000,000, shall be to carry out section 11502 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 148 note).

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

For the payment of obligations incurred in carrying out authorized Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs, $63,396,105,821 shall be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), to remain available until expended.

HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

There is hereby appropriated to the Secretary $1,136,425,000, of which $555,200,000 shall be derived from the unobligated balances of amounts previously appropriated under the heading Federal Highway Administration—Highway Infrastructure Programs in division J of Public Law 117–58, as follows: (1) $24,000,000 from amounts previously appropriated for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025 for operations and administration of the Federal Highway Administration; (2) $75,000,000 from amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2022 in paragraph (2) for the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation; (3) $220,000,000 from amounts previously appropriated for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025 in paragraph (2) for grants to States or localities that require additional assistance to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and (4) $236,200,000 from amounts that will become available for fiscal year 2026 in paragraph (2), of which $100,000,000 shall be from the grants to States or localities that require additional assistance to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure and of which $15,000,000 shall be from the operations and administration of the Federal Highway Administration: Provided, That amounts derived by transfer as described in the matter preceding this proviso shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5: Provided further, That the funds made available under this heading shall be in addition to any funds provided for fiscal year 2026 in this or any other Act for: (1) Federal-aid Highways under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code; (2) the Appalachian development highway system as authorized under section 1069(y) of Public Law 102–240; (3) activities eligible under the Tribal transportation program under section 202 of title 23, United States Code; (4) activities eligible under the Federal lands transportation program under section 203 of such title; (5) activities eligible under the Federal land access program under section 204 of such title; (6) the Northern Border Regional Commission (40 U.S.C. 15101 et seq.); (7) the Southwest Border Regional Commission (40 U.S.C. 15101 et seq.); (8) the Denali Commission; or (9) activities eligible under chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, and shall not affect the distribution or amount of funds provided in any other Act: Provided further, That, except for the funds made available under this heading for the Northern Border Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the Denali Commission, section 11101(e) of Public Law 117–58 shall apply to funds made available under this heading: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations for Federal-aid highways or highway safety construction programs set forth in any Act making annual appropriations: Provided further, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

Sec. 120.

Sec. 121.

Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, funds received by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the sale of data products, for necessary expenses incurred pursuant to chapter 63 of title 49, United States Code, may be credited to the Federal-aid highways account for the purpose of reimbursing the Bureau for such expenses.

Sec. 122.

Not less than 15 days prior to waiving, under his or her statutory authority, any Buy America requirement for Federal-aid highways projects, the Secretary of Transportation shall make an informal public notice and comment opportunity on the intent to issue such waiver and the reasons therefor: Provided, That the Secretary shall post on a website any waivers granted under the Buy America requirements.

Sec. 123.

None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to make a grant for a project under section 117 of title 23, United States Code, unless the Secretary, at least 60 days before making a grant under that section, provides written notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of the proposed grant, including an evaluation and justification for the project and the amount of the proposed grant award.

Sec. 124.

Sec. 125.

The remaining unobligated balances, as of September 30, 2026, from amounts made available for Department of Transportation—Federal Highway Administration—Highway Infrastructure Programs in division J of Public Law 117–58 for the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program under section 117 of title 23, United States Code, for fiscal year 2023 are hereby permanently rescinded, and an amount of additional new budget authority equivalent to the amount rescinded pursuant to this section is hereby appropriated on September 30, 2026, for an additional amount for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until September 30, 2031, and shall be available, without additional competition, for completing the funding of awards made pursuant to section 117 of title 23, United States Code, for fiscal year 2023 funding, in addition to other funds as may be available for such purposes: Provided, That the amounts rescinded pursuant to this section that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, and to section 251(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to 4001(a)(1) of S. Con. Res 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022, and to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives: Provided further, That the amount of additional new budget authority provided by this section is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to such section 4001(a)(1) and to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives.

Sec. 126.

The remaining unobligated balances, as of September 30, 2026, from amounts made available for Department of Transportation—Federal Highway Administration—Highway Infrastructure Programs in division J of Public Law 117–58 for the bridge investment program under section 124 of title 23, United States Code, for fiscal year 2023 are hereby permanently rescinded, and an amount of additional new budget authority equivalent to the amount rescinded pursuant to this section is hereby appropriated on September 30, 2026, for an additional amount for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until September 30, 2031, and shall be available, without additional competition, for completing the funding of awards made pursuant to section 124 of title 23, United States Code, for fiscal year 2023 funding, in addition to other funds as may be available for such purposes: Provided, That the amounts rescinded pursuant to this section that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, and to section 251(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to 4001(a)(1) of S. Con. Res 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022, and to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives: Provided further, That the amount of additional new budget authority provided by this section is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to such section 4001(a)(1) and to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget enforcement in the House of Representatives.

Sec. 127.

Not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue updated draft National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Guidance for public comment: Provided, That not later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue final NEVI Formula Program Guidance.

Sec. 128.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

For payment of obligations incurred in the implementation, execution and administration of motor carrier safety operations and programs pursuant to section 31110 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58), $390,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), together with advances and reimbursements received by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the sum of which shall remain available until expended: Provided, That funds available for implementation, execution, or administration of motor carrier safety operations and programs authorized under title 49, United States Code, shall not exceed total obligations of $390,000,000, for Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs for fiscal year 2026: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading—

MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY GRANTS

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out sections 31102, 31103, 31104, and 31313 of title 49, United States Code, $536,600,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) and to remain available until expended: Provided, That funds available for the implementation or execution of motor carrier safety programs shall not exceed total obligations of $536,600,000 in fiscal year 2026 for Motor Carrier Safety Grants: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading—

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 130.

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Transportation by this Act or any other Act may be obligated or expended to implement, administer, or enforce the requirements of section 31137 of title 49, United States Code, or any regulation issued by the Secretary pursuant to such section, with respect to the use of electronic logging devices by operators of commercial motor vehicles, as defined in section 31132(1) of such title, transporting livestock as defined in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471) or insects.

Sec. 131.

None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to require the use of inward facing cameras by a motor carrier or require a motor carrier to register an apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor as a condition for participation in the safe driver apprenticeship pilot program.

Sec. 132.

The Secretary shall update the Department’s regulations to ensure that non-compliance with section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, triggers an out-of-service order.

Sec. 133.

The Secretary shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations information on the number of certificates issued by training providers on the training provider registry not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act and bi-annually after initial submission of such information: Provided, That the Secretary shall submit a plan to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, including any resource requirements, on how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will conduct regular audits of the training provider registry not later than 120 days after enactment of this Act.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the Secretary, with respect to traffic and highway safety, authorized under chapter 301 and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code, $210,000,000, of which $65,000,000 shall remain available through September 30, 2027, and of which $145,000,000 shall be derived by transfer from the unobligated balances of amounts previously appropriated in division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) as follows: (1) $95,000,000 from amounts previously appropriated for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, and amounts that will become available for fiscal year 2026 in paragraph (3) under the heading Department of Transportation—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—Supplemental Highway Traffic Safety Programs; and (2) $50,000,000 from amounts that will become available for fiscal year 2026 under the heading Department of Transportation—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—Crash Data: Provided, That amounts derived by transfer as described in the matter preceding this proviso shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5.

OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out the provisions of section 403 of title 23, United States Code, including behavioral research on automated driving systems and advanced driver assistance systems and improving consumer responses to safety recalls, section 25024 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58), and chapter 303 of title 49, United States Code, $209,600,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) and to remain available until expended: Provided, That none of the funds in this Act shall be available for the planning or execution of programs the total obligations for which, in fiscal year 2026, are in excess of $209,600,000: Provided further, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That within the $209,600,000 obligation limitation for operations and research, $57,500,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2027, and shall be in addition to the amount of any limitation imposed on obligations for future years: Provided further, That amounts for behavioral research on automated driving systems and advanced driver assistance systems and improving consumer responses to safety recalls are in addition to any other funds provided for those purposes for fiscal year 2026 in this Act.

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out provisions of sections 402, 404, and 405 of title 23, United States Code, and grant administration expenses under chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code, to remain available until expended, $849,654,625, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account): Provided, That none of the funds in this Act shall be available for the planning or execution of programs for which the total obligations in fiscal year 2026 are in excess of $849,654,625 for programs authorized under sections 402, 404, and 405 of title 23, United States Code, and grant administration expenses under chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code: Provided further, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That none of these funds shall be used for construction, rehabilitation, or remodeling costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for State, local or private buildings or structures: Provided further, That not to exceed $500,000 of the funds made available for national priority safety programs under section 405 of title 23, United States Code, for impaired driving countermeasures (as described in subsection (d) of that section) shall be available for technical assistance to the States: Provided further, That with respect to the Transfers provision under section 405(a)(10) of title 23, United States Code, any amounts transferred to increase the amounts made available under section 402 shall include the obligation authority for such amounts: Provided further, That the Administrator shall notify the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of any exercise of the authority granted under the preceding proviso or under section 405(a)(10) of title 23, United States Code, within 5 days.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 140.

The limitations on obligations for the programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set in this Act shall not apply to obligations for which obligation authority was made available in previous public laws but only to the extent that the obligation authority has not lapsed or been used.

Sec. 141.

An additional $130,000 shall be made available to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, out of the amount limited for section 402 of title 23, United States Code, to pay for travel and related expenses for State management reviews and to pay for core competency development training and related expenses for highway safety staff.

Federal Railroad Administration

SAFETY AND OPERATIONS

For necessary expenses of the Federal Railroad Administration, not otherwise provided for, $264,549,000, of which $25,000,000 shall remain available until expended.

RAILROAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

For necessary expenses for railroad research and development, $43,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the amounts provided under this heading, up to $3,000,000 shall be available pursuant to section 20108(d) of title 49, United States Code, for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and improvements at the Transportation Technology Center: Provided further, That of the amounts provided under this heading, not less than $2,500,000 shall be available pursuant to section 20108(j) of title 49, United States Code, to establish and maintain a center of excellence.

FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL

For necessary expenses related to Federal-State partnership for intercity passenger rail grants as authorized by section 24911 of title 49, United States Code, $75,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary may withhold up to 2 percent of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act for the costs of award and project management oversight of grants carried out under title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That, of amounts made available under this heading, $5,000,000 shall be for a grant to the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation to rehabilitate and repair the Washington Union Station complex, and section 24911(f)(2) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to that grant.

CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For necessary expenses related to consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements grants, as authorized by section 22907 of title 49, United States Code, $151,524,000: Provided, That for amounts made available under this heading in this Act, $51,524,000, to remain available until expended, shall be made available for the projects, and in the amounts, specified for congressionally directed spending in the table entitled Congressionally Directed Spending included in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That amounts made available in the preceding proviso for such projects shall not diminish or prejudice any application or geographic region for other discretionary grant or loan awards made by the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That requirements under subsections (g) and (l) of section 22907 of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to the first proviso under this heading in this Act: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act, $100,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to distribute as discretionary grants under this heading in this Act, of which $55,200,000 shall remain available until expended, and of which $44,800,000 shall be derived by transfer from the unobligated balances of amounts that will become available for fiscal year 2026 in paragraph (2) under the heading Federal Highway Administration—Highway Infrastructure Programs in division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58): Provided further, That amounts derived by transfer as described in the preceding proviso shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5: Provided further, That for amounts made available under this heading in this Act, eligible projects under section 22907(c)(8) of title 49, United States Code, shall also include railroad systems planning (including the preparation of regional intercity passenger rail plans and State rail plans) and railroad project development activities (including railroad project planning, preliminary engineering, design, environmental analysis, feasibility studies, and the development and analysis of project alternatives): Provided further, That section 22905(f) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to amounts made available under this heading in this Act for projects that implement or sustain positive train control systems otherwise eligible under section 22907(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading in this Act for projects selected for commuter rail passenger transportation may be transferred by the Secretary, after selection, to the appropriate agencies to be administered in accordance with chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That for amounts made available under this heading in this Act, eligible recipients under section 22907(b)(7) of title 49, United States Code, shall include any holding company of a Class II railroad or Class III railroad (as those terms are defined in section 20102 of title 49, United States Code): Provided further, That section 22907(e)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to amounts made available under this heading in this Act: Provided further, That section 22907(e)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to amounts made available under this heading in previous fiscal years if such funds are announced in a notice of funding opportunity that includes funds made available under this heading in this Act: Provided further, That the preceding proviso shall not apply to funds made available under this heading in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (division J of Public Law 117–58): Provided further, That unobligated balances remaining after 6 years from the date of enactment of this Act may be used for any eligible project under section 22907(c) of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That the Secretary may withhold up to 2 percent of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act for the costs of award and project management oversight of grants carried out under title 49, United States Code.

NORTHEAST CORRIDOR GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION

To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for activities associated with the Northeast Corridor as authorized by section 22101(a) of division B of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58), $850,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary may retain up to one-half of 1 percent of the amounts made available under both this heading in this Act and the National Network Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation heading in this Act to fund the costs of project management and oversight of activities authorized by section 22101(c) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58): Provided further, That in addition to the project management oversight funds authorized under section 22101(c) of division B of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58), the Secretary shall retain an additional $5,000,000 of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act to fund expenses associated with the Northeast Corridor Commission established under section 24905 of title 49, United States Code.

NATIONAL NETWORK GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION

To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for activities associated with the National Network as authorized by section 22101(b) of division B of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58), $1,577,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary shall retain an additional $3,000,000 of the funds provided under this heading in this Act to fund expenses associated with the State-Supported Route Committee established under section 24712 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That none of the funds provided under this heading in this Act shall be used by Amtrak to give notice under subsection (a) or (c) of section 24706 of title 49, United States Code, with respect to long-distance routes (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code) on which Amtrak is the sole operator on a host railroad’s line and a positive train control system is not required by law or regulation, or, except in an emergency or during maintenance or construction outages impacting such routes, to otherwise discontinue, reduce the frequency of, suspend, or substantially alter the route of rail service on any portion of such route operated in fiscal year 2018, including implementation of service permitted by section 24305(a)(3)(A) of title 49, United States Code, in lieu of rail service: Provided further, That the National Railroad Passenger Corporation may use up to $66,000,000 of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act for corridor development activities as authorized by section 22101(h) of division B of Public Law 117–58: Provided further, That $5,000,000 of the amounts made available under this heading in this Act shall be for the modernization project identified in the report accompanying this Act.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Sec. 150.

The amounts made available to the Secretary or to the Federal Railroad Administration for the costs of award, administration, and project management oversight of financial assistance which are administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, in this and prior Acts, may be transferred to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Financial Assistance Oversight and Technical Assistance account for the necessary expenses to support the award, administration, project management oversight, and technical assistance of financial assistance administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, in the same manner as appropriated for in this and prior Acts: Provided, That this section shall not apply to amounts that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Sec. 151.

None of the funds made available to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation may be used to fund any overtime costs in excess of $35,000 for any individual employee: Provided, That the President of Amtrak may waive the cap set in the preceding proviso for specific employees when the President of Amtrak determines such a cap poses a risk to the safety and operational efficiency of the system: Provided further, That the President of Amtrak shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a summary of all overtime payments incurred by Amtrak for 2025 and the three prior calendar years: Provided further, That such summary shall include the total number of employees that received waivers and the total overtime payments Amtrak paid to employees receiving waivers for each month for 2025 and for the three prior calendar years.

Sec. 152.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation in contravention of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.).

Sec. 153.

None of the funds made available to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation under the headings Northeast Corridor Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and National Network Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation may be used to reduce the total number of Amtrak Police Department uniformed officers patrolling on board passenger trains or at stations, facilities or rights-of-way below the staffing level on May 1, 2019.

Sec. 154.

For amounts made available under the heading Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail for fiscal year 2026 in this Act and in title VIII of division J of Public Law 117–58, the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation shall be considered an entity eligible to receive a grant under section 24911(a) of title 49, United States Code: Provided, That section 24911(f)(2) of title 49 shall not apply to grants made available to the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation.

Sec. 155.

It is the sense of Congress that—

Sec. 156.

Of the unobligated balances of funds remaining from—

Federal transit administration

TRANSIT FORMULA GRANTS

(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

For payment of obligations incurred in the Federal public transportation assistance program in this account, and for payment of obligations incurred in carrying out the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 5305, 5307, 5310, 5311, 5312, 5314, 5318, 5329(e)(6), 5334, 5335, 5337, 5339, and 5340, section 20005(b) of Public Law 112–141, and section 3006(b) of Public Law 114–94, $14,642,000,000, to be derived from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund and to remain available until expended: Provided, That funds available for the implementation or execution of programs authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5305, 5307, 5310, 5311, 5312, 5314, 5318, 5329(e)(6), 5334, 5335, 5337, 5339, and 5340, section 20005(b) of Public Law 112–141, and section 3006(b) of Public Law 114–94, shall not exceed total obligations of $14,642,000,000 in fiscal year 2026.

TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS

For an additional amount for ferry boat grants under section 5307(h) of title 49, United States Code, Tribal technical assistance under section 5311(b)(3)(C) of such title, bus testing facilities under section 5318 of such title, accelerating innovative mobility initiative grants under section 5312 of such title, congressionally directed spending for projects and activities eligible under chapter 53 of such title, ferry service for rural communities under section 71103 of division G of Public Law 117–58, and operating assistance to improve public safety in transit systems, $140,857,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the sums provided under this heading in this Act—

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING

For necessary expenses to carry out section 5314 of title 49, United States Code, $7,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That the assistance provided under this heading does not duplicate the activities of section 5311(b) or section 5312 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading are in addition to any other amounts made available for such purposes: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading shall not be subject to any limitation on obligations set forth in this or any other Act.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS

For necessary expenses to carry out fixed guideway capital investment grants under section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, and section 3005(b) of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (Public Law 114–94), $1,950,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which $100,000,000 shall be allocated to projects authorized under section 3005(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act: Provided, That the amounts made available under this heading in this Act shall be made available for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table entitled Allocation of FTA Capital Investment Grants Funding in this Act for Fiscal Year 2026 included in the report accompanying this Act: Provided further, That the Secretary shall make allocations for amounts made available under this heading in this Act and under this heading in division J of Public Law 117–58 no later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act: Provided further, That the Secretary shall continue to administer the capital investment grants program in accordance with the procedural and substantive requirements of section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, and of section 3005(b) of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act: Provided further, That projects that receive a grant agreement under the expedited project delivery for capital investment grants pilot program under section 3005(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act shall be deemed eligible for funding provided for projects under section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, without further evaluation or rating under such section: Provided further, That such funding shall not exceed the Federal share under section 3005(b): Provided further, That for funds made available under this heading in division J of Public Law 117–58 the second through sixth provisos shall be treated as inapplicable for fiscal year 2026: Provided further, That amounts repurposed under this heading in this Act shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5.

GRANTS TO THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY

For grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority as authorized under section 601 of division B of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–432), $150,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation shall approve grants for capital and preventive maintenance expenditures for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority only after receiving and reviewing a request for each specific project: Provided further, That the Secretary shall determine that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has placed the highest priority on those investments that will improve the safety of the system before approving such grants.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Sec. 160.

The limitations on obligations for the programs of the Federal Transit Administration shall not apply to any authority under 49 U.S.C. 5338, previously made available for obligation, or to any other authority previously made available for obligation.

Sec. 161.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or limited by this Act under the heading Capital Investment Grants of the Federal Transit Administration for projects specified in this Act not obligated by September 30, 2029, and other recoveries, shall be directed to projects eligible to use the funds for the purposes for which they were originally provided.

Sec. 162.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds appropriated before October 1, 2025, under any section of chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, that remain available for expenditure, may be transferred to and administered under the most recent appropriation heading for any such section.

Sec. 163.

None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act shall be used to adjust apportionments or withhold funds from apportionments pursuant to section 9503(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9503(e)(4)).

Sec. 164.

None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act shall be used to impede or hinder project advancement or approval for any project seeking a Federal contribution from the capital investment grants program of greater than 40 percent of project costs as authorized under section 5309 of title 49, United States Code.

Sec. 165.

Sec. 166.

Sec. 167.

Section 5323 of title 49, United States Code, is amended in subsection (q)—

Sec. 168.

None of the funds made available under this Act shall be used in awarding or amending a contract or subcontract to an entity that, at any time on or after December 20, 2019, met the criteria described in section 5323(u) of title 49, United States Code, or to any entity resulting from a reorganization or restructuring of such entity, or to any successor, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, or co-owned enterprise of such an entity, without regard to whether such reorganized or restructured entity, successor, subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture, or co-owned enterprise meets the criteria under such section.

Sec. 169.

Of the unobligated balances made available for the following programs authorized by Public Law 109–59, the Secretary shall make $68,000,000 available for transportation assistance, including assistance with transit planning, capital projects, and operating assistance, for surface, commuter, and public transportation systems necessary to support the mobility needs of the international quadrennial Olympic and Paralympic events as authorized by section 1223(e) of Public Law 105–178—

Sec. 169A.

Of the unobligated balances made available for the following programs authorized by Public Law 109–59, the Secretary shall make $78,115,871 available for costs related to the planning and operating equipment and facilities for use in public transportation that supplement regular transit services in support of matches or other public events held in domestic host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026—

Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to the Corporation, and in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations, as provided by section 9104 of title 31, United States Code, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the Corporation’s budget for the current fiscal year.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

(HARBOR MAINTENANCE TRUST FUND)

For necessary expenses to conduct the operations, maintenance, and capital infrastructure activities on portions of the St. Lawrence Seaway owned, operated, and maintained by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, $40,624,000, to be derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, pursuant to section 210 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2238): Provided, That of the amounts made available under this heading, not less than $15,950,000 shall be for the seaway infrastructure program.

Maritime Administration

MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

For necessary expenses to maintain and preserve a U.S.-flag merchant fleet as authorized under chapter 531 of title 46, United States Code, to serve the national security needs of the United States, $390,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the unobligated balances remaining from fiscal year 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 appropriations made available under this heading, $33,400,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.

CABLE SECURITY FLEET

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

For the cable security fleet program, as authorized under chapter 532 of title 46, United States Code, $10,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the unobligated balances remaining from fiscal year 2021 and 2022 appropriations made available under this heading, $12,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.

TANKER SECURITY PROGRAM

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

For Tanker Security Fleet payments, as authorized under section 53406 of title 46, United States Code, $122,400,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the unobligated balances remaining from fiscal year 2022, 2023, and 2024 appropriations available under this heading, $77,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.

OPERATIONS AND TRAINING

For necessary expenses of operations and training activities authorized by law, $240,898,000: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That the Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations the annual report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at the United States Merchant Marine Academy as required pursuant to section 3510 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017 (46 U.S.C. 51318): Provided further, That the Administrator of the Maritime Administration shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations an annual capital improvement program plan not later than 30 days after the submission of the budget request: Provided further, That available balances under this heading for the short sea transportation program or America's marine highway program (now known as the United States marine highway program) from prior year recoveries shall be available to carry out activities authorized under section 55601 of title 46, United States Code.

STATE MARITIME ACADEMY OPERATIONS

For necessary expenses of operations, support, and training activities for State Maritime Academies, $143,400,000: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

ASSISTANCE TO SMALL SHIPYARDS

To make grants to qualified shipyards as authorized under section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, $30,000,000, to remain available until expended.

SHIP DISPOSAL

For necessary expenses related to the disposal of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime Administration, $6,000,000, to remain available until expended.

MARITIME GUARANTEED LOAN (TITLE XI) PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING RESCISSION)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed loan program, $3,940,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriations for Maritime Administration—Operations and Training: Provided, That of the unobligated balances from prior year appropriations available under this heading, $25,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.

PORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

To make grants to improve port facilities as authorized under section 54301 of title 46, United States Code, and section 3501(9) of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 (Public Law 118–159), $96,482,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading in this Act—

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 170.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in addition to any existing authority, the Maritime Administration is authorized to furnish utilities and services and make necessary repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy involving Government property under control of the Maritime Administration: Provided, That payments received therefor shall be credited to the appropriation charged with the cost thereof and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That rental payments under any such lease, contract, or occupancy for items other than such utilities, services, or repairs shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

OPERATIONAL EXPENSES

For necessary operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $31,312,000, of which $4,500,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That not less than $2,000,000 of the amounts made available under this heading shall be for technical assistance grants as authorized under section 60130 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That the Secretary shall issue a notice of funding opportunity for such funds not later than 120 days after enactment of this Act: Provided further, That the Secretary shall make grant awards for such funds not later than August 30, 2026.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY

For expenses necessary to discharge the hazardous materials safety functions of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $73,660,000, of which $12,070,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028, of which $1,000,000 shall be made available for carrying out section 5107(i) of title 49, United States Code: Provided, That up to $800,000 in fees collected under section 5108(g) of title 49, United States Code, shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as offsetting receipts: Provided further, That there may be credited to this appropriation, to be available until expended, funds received from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred for training, for reports publication and dissemination, and for travel expenses incurred in performance of hazardous materials exemptions and approvals functions.

PIPELINE SAFETY

(PIPELINE SAFETY FUND)

(OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND)

For expenses necessary to carry out a pipeline safety program, as authorized by section 60107 of title 49, United States Code, and to discharge the pipeline program responsibilities of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–380), $218,186,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028, of which $30,000,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund; of which $180,786,000 shall be derived from the Pipeline Safety Fund; of which $200,000 shall be derived from the fees collected under section 60303 of title 49, United States Code, and deposited in the Liquefied Natural Gas Siting Account for compliance reviews of liquefied natural gas facilities; of which $200,000 shall be derived from the fees collected under section 60117, of title 49, United States Code, and deposited in the Pipeline Safety Design Review Account for facility design safety reviews; and of which $7,000,000 shall be derived from fees collected under section 60302 of title 49, United States Code, and deposited in the Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety Account for the purpose of carrying out section 60141 of title 49, United States Code: Provided, That not less than $1,058,000 of the amounts made available under this heading shall be for the one-call State grant program: Provided further, That any amounts made available under this heading in this Act or in prior Acts for research contracts, grants, cooperative agreements or research other transactions agreements (OTAs) shall require written notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full business days before such research contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or research OTAs are announced by the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That the Secretary shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations the report on pipeline safety testing enhancement as required pursuant to section 105 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (division R of Public Law 116–260): Provided further, That the Secretary may obligate amounts made available under this heading to engineer, erect, alter, and repair buildings or make any other public improvements for research facilities at the Transportation Technology Center after the Secretary submits an updated research plan and the report in the preceding proviso to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and after such plan and report in the preceding proviso are approved by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, not less than $5,000,000 is for the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety authorized under section 111 of the Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES) Act.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANTS

(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

(EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND)

For expenses necessary to carry out the emergency preparedness grants program, not more than $46,825,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2028, from amounts made available by section 5116(h) and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5128 of title 49, United States Code: Provided, That notwithstanding section 5116(h)(4) of title 49, United States Code, not more than 4 percent of the amounts made available from this account shall be available to pay the administrative costs of carrying out sections 5116, 5107(e), and 5108(g)(2) of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, That notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c) of section 5128 of title 49, United States Code, and the limitation on obligations provided under this heading, prior year recoveries recognized in the current year shall be available to develop and deliver hazardous materials emergency response training for emergency responders, including response activities for the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, flammable liquids, and other hazardous commodities by rail, consistent with National Fire Protection Association standards, and to make such training available through an electronic format: Provided further, That the prior year recoveries made available under this heading shall also be available to carry out sections 5116(a)(1)(C), 5116(h), 5116(i), 5116(j), and 5107(e) of title 49, United States Code.

Office of Inspector General

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $116,452,000: Provided, That the Inspector General shall have all necessary authority, in carrying out the duties specified in the Inspector General Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), to investigate allegations of fraud, including false statements to the government (18 U.S.C. 1001), by any person or entity that is subject to regulation by the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act shall be used to impede or prevent the Inspector General (or Acting Inspector General) of the Department of Transportation from exercising the independent authority over all personnel decisions, as authorized under section 406 of title 5, United States Code.

General Provisions—Department of Transportation

Sec. 180.

Sec. 181.

Appropriations contained in this Act for the Department of Transportation shall be available for services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for an Executive Level IV.

Sec. 182.

Sec. 183.

None of the funds made available by this Act shall be available for salaries and expenses of more than 125 political and Presidential appointees in the Department of Transportation: Provided, That none of the personnel covered by this provision may be assigned on temporary detail outside the Department of Transportation.

Sec. 184.

Funds received by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred for training may be credited respectively to the Federal Highway Administration's Federal-Aid Highways account and to the Federal Railroad Administration's Safety and Operations account, except for State rail safety inspectors participating in training pursuant to section 20105 of title 49, United States Code.

Sec. 185.

None of the funds made available by this Act or in title VIII of division J of Public Law 117–58 to the Department of Transportation may be used to make, modify the scope or terms and conditions of, terminate, rescind, or reduce a loan, loan guarantee, line of credit, letter of intent, federally funded cooperative agreement, full funding grant agreement, or discretionary grant unless the Secretary of Transportation notifies the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full business days before any project competitively selected to receive any discretionary grant award, letter of intent, loan commitment, loan guarantee commitment, line of credit commitment, federally funded cooperative agreement, or full funding grant agreement is announced or is notified of such changes by the Department or its operating administrations: Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation shall provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations with a comprehensive list of all such loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, letters of intent, federally funded cooperative agreements, full funding grant agreements, and discretionary grants prior to the notification required under the preceding proviso: Provided further, That the Secretary gives concurrent notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations for any quick release of funds from the emergency relief program: Provided further, That no notification shall involve funds that are not available for obligation.

Sec. 186.

Rebates, refunds, incentive payments, minor fees, and other funds received by the Department of Transportation from travel management centers, charge card programs, the subleasing of building space, and miscellaneous sources are to be credited to appropriations of the Department of Transportation and allocated to organizational units of the Department of Transportation using fair and equitable criteria and such funds shall be available until expended.

Sec. 187.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if any funds provided by or limited by this Act are subject to a reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, transmission of such reprogramming notice shall be provided solely to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, and such reprogramming action shall be approved or denied solely by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation may provide notice to other congressional committees of the action of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on such reprogramming but not sooner than 30 days after the date on which the reprogramming action has been approved or denied by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.

Sec. 188.

Funds appropriated by this Act to the operating administrations may be obligated for the Office of the Secretary for the costs related to assessments or reimbursable agreements only when such amounts are for the costs of goods and services that are purchased to provide a direct benefit to the applicable operating administration or administrations.

Sec. 189.

The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to carry out a program that establishes uniform standards for developing and supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits authorized under section 7905 of title 5, United States Code, including distribution of transit benefits by various paper and electronic media.

Sec. 190.

The Department of Transportation may use funds provided by this Act, or any other Act, to assist a contract under title 49 or 23 of the United States Code utilizing geographic, economic, or any other hiring preference not otherwise authorized by law, or to amend a rule, regulation, policy or other measure that forbids a recipient of a Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration grant from imposing such hiring preference on a contract or construction project with which the Department of Transportation is assisting, only if the grant recipient certifies the following:

Sec. 191.

None of the funds made available by this act may be used to require a recipient of Federal funds to display signage containing the name of the President, Vice President, or any member of the President’s Cabinet as a condition of the receipt of such funds.

Sec. 192.

None of the funds made available by this Act or any prior Act may be used to open, close, redesignate as a lesser office, or reorganize a regional, division, or field office, unless such action is provided for in this Act, the report accompanying this Act, or section 40003 of Public Law 119–21: Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation shall maintain all regional, division, and field offices for each operating administration in effect on September 30, 2024 unless such action is provided for in this Act, the report accompanying this Act, or section 40003 of Public Law 119–21, and shall ensure that each such office has sufficient staff to carry out all statutorily authorized activities.

Sec. 193.

The Secretary shall issue a new notice of funding opportunity for eight new university transportation centers, as authorized under section 5505 of title 49, United States Code: Provided, That in selecting such university transportation center awards, the Secretary shall first prioritize (a) any applicants that had previously been selected as a university transportation center focusing on transportation infrastructure durability and composite materials and were required to re-compete before the end of the typical five-year term and who currently participate in the Department of Transportation’s Advanced Research Projects Agency—Infrastructure program and (b) any applicant that had their university transportation center designation cancelled in May 2025 by the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That such university transportation center awards shall be made available using any unobligated amounts remaining from the university transportation centers program, which have not been committed to any existing university transportation center grantees: Provided further, That any such unobligated amounts shall include funds made available in section 11101(c)(1)(E) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) and funds made available under the heading Highway Infrastructure Program in Title VIII of Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58): Provided further, That amounts repurposed or transferred pursuant to this section shall continue to be treated as amounts specified in section 103(b) of division A of Public Law 118–5.

Sec. 194.

Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report that provides a list of (1) each grant, federally funded cooperative agreement, other transaction agreement, and contract that was obligated and subsequently terminated or reduced in scope in fiscal year 2025 and remains terminated or reduced in scope as of the date of enactment of this Act, and, (2) each grant, federally funded cooperative agreement, other transaction agreement, and contract for which the terms and conditions of agreements were changed or modified in fiscal year 2025: Provided, That such report shall include an explanation for each termination or modification, the recipient, the location of the project or service, and the source of funding.

This title may be cited as the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2026.

Management and administration

EXECUTIVE OFFICES

For necessary salaries and expenses for Executive Offices, which shall be comprised of the offices of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Adjudicatory Services, Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, Public Affairs, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the Center for Faith, $17,500,000, of which $2,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading not less than $2,500,000 shall be for the Office of the Deputy Secretary, of which not less than $500,000 shall be for the Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention and not less than $1,200,000 shall be for the Office of Disaster Management: Provided further, That not to exceed $25,000 of the amount made available under this heading shall be available to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this title as the Secretary) for official reception and representation expenses as the Secretary may determine.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OFFICES

For necessary salaries and expenses for Administrative Support Offices, $590,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be used for necessary administrative and non-administrative expenses of the Department, not otherwise provided for, including purchase of uniforms, or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated under this heading may be used for advertising and promotional activities that directly support program activities funded in this title.

PROGRAM OFFICES

For necessary salaries and expenses for Program Offices, $903,200,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUND

For Department-wide and program-specific information technology systems and infrastructure, $365,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That not later than 30 days after the end of each quarter, the Secretary shall brief the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on all information technology modernization efforts as required in the report accompanying this Act.

Public and indian housing

TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE

For activities and assistance for the provision of tenant-based rental assistance authorized under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) (in this heading the Act), not otherwise provided for, $33,354,709,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be available on October 1, 2025 (in addition to the $4,000,000,000 previously appropriated under this heading that shall be available on October 1, 2025), and $4,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be available on October 1, 2026: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

HOUSING CERTIFICATE FUND

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

Unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban Development under this heading, the heading Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing and the heading Project-Based Rental Assistance, for fiscal year 2026 and prior years may be used for renewal of or amendments to section 8 project-based contracts and for performance-based contract administrators, notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds were appropriated: Provided, That any obligated balances of contract authority from fiscal year 1974 and prior fiscal years that have been terminated shall be rescinded: Provided further, That amounts heretofore recaptured, or recaptured during the current fiscal year, from section 8 project-based contracts from source years fiscal year 1975 through fiscal year 1987 are hereby rescinded, and an amount of additional new budget authority, equivalent to the amount rescinded is hereby appropriated, to remain available until expended, for the purposes set forth under this heading, in addition to amounts otherwise available.

PUBLIC HOUSING FUND

For 2026 payments to public housing agencies for the operation and management of public housing, as authorized by section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)) (the Act), and to carry out capital and management activities for public housing agencies, as authorized under section 9(d) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)), $8,397,326,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, during fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may not delegate to any Department official other than the Deputy Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing any authority under paragraph (2) of section 9(j) of the Act regarding the extension of the time periods under such section: Provided further, That for purposes of such section 9(j), the term obligate means, with respect to amounts, that the amounts are subject to a binding agreement that will result in outlays, immediately or in the future: Provided further, That the Secretary may authorize a public housing agency with at least one property with a low physical inspection score to use operating reserve funds or any amounts allocated to such agency pursuant to the operating fund formula from amounts made available in this and prior Acts for any eligible activities under section 9(d)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)(1)) under such conditions or criteria as established by the Secretary, including that such use would not put such agency at risk of financial shortfall.

ASSISTED HOUSING INSPECTIONS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS

For the Department’s inspection and assessment programs, including travel, training, and program support contracts, $50,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated under the heading Public Housing Fund in prior Acts to support ongoing public housing financial and physical assessment activities shall be available for the purposes authorized under this heading in addition to the purposes for which such funds originally were appropriated.

CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE

For competitive grants under the choice neighborhoods initiative (subject to section 24 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v) (the Act) unless otherwise specified under this heading), for transformation, rehabilitation, and replacement housing needs of both public and HUD-assisted housing and to transform neighborhoods of poverty into functioning, sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation, and access to jobs, $40,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That grant funds may be used for resident and community services, community development, and affordable housing needs in the community, and for conversion of vacant or foreclosed properties to affordable housing: Provided further, That the use of amounts made available under this heading shall not be deemed to be for public housing, notwithstanding section 3(b)(1) of the Act: Provided further, That grantees shall commit to an additional period of affordability determined by the Secretary of not fewer than 20 years: Provided further, That grantees shall provide a match in State, local, other Federal, or private funds: Provided further, That grantees may include local governments, Tribal entities, public housing agencies, and nonprofit organizations: Provided further, That for-profit developers may apply jointly with a public entity: Provided further, That for purposes of environmental review, a grantee shall be treated as a public housing agency under section 26 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437x), and grants made with amounts available under this heading shall be subject to the regulations issued by the Secretary to implement such section: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, not less than $20,000,000 shall be awarded to public housing agencies: Provided further, That such grantees shall create partnerships with other local organizations, including assisted housing owners, service agencies, and resident organizations: Provided further, That the Secretary shall consult with the Secretaries of Education, Labor, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Commerce, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate and leverage other appropriate Federal resources: Provided further, That not more than $10,000,000 of the amounts made available under this heading may be provided as grants to undertake comprehensive local planning with input from residents and the community: Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this heading may be obligated for main street housing grants under section 24(n) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437v(n)): Provided further, That unobligated balances, including recaptures, remaining from amounts made available under the heading Revitalization of Severely Distressed Public Housing (HOPE VI) in fiscal year 2011 and prior fiscal years may be used for purposes under this heading, notwithstanding the purposes for which such amounts were appropriated: Provided further, That the Secretary shall make grant awards not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act in such amounts that the Secretary determines: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 24(o) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437v(o)), the Secretary may, until September 30, 2026, obligate any available unobligated balances made available under this heading in this or any prior Act.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS

For activities and assistance related to self-sufficiency programs, to remain available until September 30, 2029, $211,400,000: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS

For activities and assistance authorized under title I of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (in this heading NAHASDA) (25 U.S.C. 4111 et seq.), title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) with respect to Indian Tribes, and for related activities and assistance, $1,354,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

INDIAN HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

For the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized by section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a), $1,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a): Provided further, That an additional $400,000, to remain available until expended, shall be available for administrative expenses, including management of the loan guarantee program: Provided further, That amounts made available in this and prior Acts for the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized by section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a), that are unobligated, including recaptures and carryover, may be available to subsidize total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed $1,200,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027.

NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT

For the Native Hawaiian housing block grant program, as authorized under title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4221 et seq.), $22,300,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That notwithstanding section 812(b) of such Act, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands may not invest grant amounts made available under this heading in investment securities and other obligations: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading in this and prior fiscal years may be used to provide rental assistance to eligible Native Hawaiian families both on and off the Hawaiian Home Lands, notwithstanding any other provision of law: Provided further, That up to $1,000,000 of the amounts made available under this heading may be for training and technical assistance related to amounts made available under this heading and other headings in this Act for the needs of Native Hawaiians and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

New commitments to guarantee loans, as authorized by section 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13b), any part of which is to be guaranteed, shall not exceed $28,000,000 in total loan principal, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That the Secretary may enter into commitments to guarantee loans used for refinancing.

Community Planning and Development

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS

For carrying out the housing opportunities for persons with AIDS program, as authorized by the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.), $529,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That the Secretary shall renew or replace all expiring contracts for permanent supportive housing that initially were funded under section 854(c)(5) of such Act from funds made available under this heading in fiscal year 2010 and prior fiscal years that meet all program requirements before awarding funds for new contracts under such section: Provided further, That the process for submitting amendments and approving replacement contracts shall be established by the Secretary in a notice: Provided further, That the Department shall notify grantees of their formula allocation within 60 days of enactment of this Act.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

For assistance to States and units of general local government, and other entities, for economic and community development activities, and other purposes, $4,541,397,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That for amounts made available under paragraphs (1) and (3), the Secretary shall notify grantees of their formula allocation within 60 days of enactment of this Act.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOAN GUARANTEES PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Subject to section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a), during fiscal year 2026, commitments to guarantee loans under section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5308), any part of which is guaranteed, shall not exceed a total principal amount of $400,000,000, notwithstanding any aggregate limitation on outstanding obligations guaranteed in subsection (k) of such section 108: Provided, That the Secretary shall collect fees from borrowers, notwithstanding subsection (m) of such section 108, to result in a credit subsidy cost of zero for guaranteeing such loans, and any such fees shall be collected in accordance with section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That such commitment authority funded by fees may be used to guarantee, or make commitments to guarantee, notes or other obligations issued by any State on behalf of non-entitlement communities in the State in accordance with the requirements of such section 108: Provided further, That any State receiving such a guarantee or commitment under the preceding proviso shall distribute all funds subject to such guarantee to the units of general local government in non-entitlement areas that received the commitment.

HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM

For the HOME investment partnerships program, as authorized under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.), $1,250,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That the threshold reduction requirements in sections 216(10) and 217(b)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12746(10), 12747(b)(4)) shall not apply to the amounts made available under this heading: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 231(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12771(b)), all unobligated balances remaining from amounts recaptured pursuant to such section that remain available until expended shall be combined with amounts made available under this heading and allocated in accordance with the formula under section 217(b)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12747(b)(1)(A)): Provided further, That the Department shall notify grantees of their formula allocations within 60 days after enactment of this Act: Provided further, That section 218(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12748(g)) shall not apply with respect to the right of a jurisdiction to draw funds from its HOME Investment Trust Fund that otherwise expired or would expire in any calendar year from 2020 through 2028 under that section: Provided further, That section 231(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12771(b)) shall not apply to any uninvested funds that otherwise were deducted or would be deducted from the line of credit in the participating jurisdiction's HOME Investment Trust Fund in any calendar year from 2020 through 2028 under that section.

PRESERVATION AND REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT

For competitive grants to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing and eligible manufactured housing communities (including pre-1976 mobile homes) under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), $10,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2030: Provided, That recipients of grants provided with amounts made available under this heading shall be States, units of general local government, resident-owned manufactured housing communities, cooperatives, nonprofit entities including consortia of nonprofit entities, community development financial institutions, Indian Tribes (as such term is defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) (25 U.S.C. 4103)), or other entities approved by the Secretary: Provided further, That the Secretary shall reserve an amount for Indian Tribes within such competition: Provided further, That the Secretary may approve entities for selection that partner with one or several residents of such eligible communities or that propose to implement a grant program that would assist residents of such eligible communities: Provided further, That eligible uses of such grants may include infrastructure, planning, resident and community services (including relocation assistance and eviction prevention), resiliency activities, and providing other assistance to residents or owners of manufactured homes, which may include providing assistance for manufactured housing land and site acquisition: Provided further, That, except as determined by the Secretary, participation in this program shall not encumber the future transfer of title or use of property by the residents, owners, or communities: Provided further, That when selecting recipients, the Secretary shall prioritize applications that primarily benefit low- or moderately low-income residents and preserve long-term housing affordability for residents of manufactured housing or a manufactured housing community: Provided further, That eligible manufactured housing communities may include those that are—

Provided further, That resiliency activities means the reconstruction, repair, or replacement of manufactured housing and manufactured housing communities to protect the health and safety of manufactured housing residents and to address weatherization and energy efficiency needs, except that for pre-1976 mobile homes, funds made available under this heading may be used only for replacement: Provided further, That the Secretary may waive or specify alternative requirements for any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the use of amounts made available under this heading (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), upon a finding that such waiver or alternative requirement is necessary to facilitate the use of such amounts.

SELF-HELP AND ASSISTED HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM

For the self-help and assisted homeownership opportunity program, as authorized under section 11 of the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 12805 note), and for related activities and assistance, $70,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS

For assistance under title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.), and for related activities and assistance, $4,530,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That youth aged 24 and under seeking assistance under this heading shall not be required to provide third party documentation to establish their eligibility under subsection (a) or (b) of section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302) to receive services: Provided further, That unaccompanied youth aged 24 and under or families headed by youth aged 24 and under who are living in unsafe situations may be served by youth-serving providers funded under this heading: Provided further, That recipients of funds provided under this heading in this Act or any prior Act may establish preferences for elderly individuals or families (except for programs provided to serve homeless youth), or disabled individuals or families, when implementing the programs: Provided further, That persons eligible under section 103(a)(5) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act may be served by any project funded under this heading to provide both transitional housing and rapid re-housing: Provided further, That for all matching funds requirements applicable to funds made available under this heading for this fiscal year and prior fiscal years, a grantee may use (or could have used) as a source of match funds other funds administered by the Secretary and other Federal agencies unless there is (or was) a specific statutory prohibition on any such use of any such funds: Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this heading shall be available to provide funding for new projects, except for projects created through reallocation, unless the Secretary determines that the continuum of care has demonstrated that projects are evaluated and ranked based on the degree to which they improve the continuum of care's system performance: Provided further, That any unobligated amounts remaining from funds made available under this heading in fiscal year 2012 and prior years for project-based rental assistance for rehabilitation projects with 10-year grant terms may be used for purposes under this heading, notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds were appropriated: Provided further, That unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds transferred to or appropriated under this heading in fiscal year 2019 or prior years, except for rental assistance amounts that were recaptured and made available until expended, shall be available for the current purposes authorized under this heading in addition to the purposes for which such funds originally were appropriated.

Housing programs

PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE

For activities and assistance for the provision of project-based subsidy contracts under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) (the Act), not otherwise provided for, $17,404,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be available on October 1, 2025 (in addition to the $400,000,000 previously appropriated under this heading that became available October 1, 2025), and $400,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be available on October 1, 2026: Provided, That the amounts made available under this heading shall be available for expiring or terminating section 8 project-based subsidy contracts (including section 8 moderate rehabilitation contracts), for amendments to section 8 project-based subsidy contracts (including section 8 moderate rehabilitation contracts), for contracts entered into pursuant to section 441 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11401), for renewal of section 8 contracts for units in projects that are subject to approved plans of action under the Emergency Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987 or the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990, and for administrative and other expenses associated with project-based activities and assistance funded under this heading: Provided further, That of the total amounts provided under this heading, not to exceed $509,000,000 shall be available for performance-based contract administrators for section 8 project-based assistance, for carrying out 42 U.S.C. 1437(f): Provided further, That the Secretary may also use such amounts in the preceding proviso for performance-based contract administrators for the administration of: interest reduction payments pursuant to section 236(a) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–1(a)); rent supplement payments pursuant to section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (12 U.S.C. 1701s); section 236(f)(2) rental assistance payments (12 U.S.C. 1715z–1(f)(2)); project rental assistance contracts for the elderly under section 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q); project rental assistance contracts for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(d)(2)); project assistance contracts pursuant to section 202(h) of the Housing Act of 1959 (Public Law 86–372; 73 Stat. 667); and loans under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (Public Law 86–372; 73 Stat. 667): Provided further, That amounts recaptured under this heading, the heading Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing, or the heading Housing Certificate Fund, may be used for renewals of or amendments to section 8 project-based contracts or for performance-based contract administrators, notwithstanding the purposes for which such amounts were appropriated: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the request of the Secretary, project funds that are held in residual receipts accounts for any project subject to a section 8 project-based housing assistance payments contract that authorizes the Department or a housing finance agency to require that surplus project funds be deposited in an interest-bearing residual receipts account and that are in excess of an amount to be determined by the Secretary, shall be remitted to the Department and deposited in this account, to be available until expended: Provided further, That amounts deposited pursuant to the preceding proviso shall be available in addition to the amount otherwise provided by this heading for uses authorized under this heading.

HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY

For capital advances, including amendments to capital advance contracts, for housing for the elderly, as authorized by section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q), for project rental assistance for the elderly under section 202(c)(2) of such Act, including amendments to contracts for such assistance and renewal of expiring contracts for such assistance for up to a 5-year term, for senior preservation rental assistance contracts, including renewals, as authorized by section 811(e) of the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000 (12 U.S.C. 1701q note), for supportive services associated with the housing, and for administrative and other expenses associated with assistance under this heading, $972,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That of the amount made available under this heading, up to $122,000,000 shall be for service coordinators and the continuation of existing congregate service grants for residents of assisted housing projects: Provided further, That any funding for existing service coordinators under the preceding proviso shall be provided within 120 days of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That the Secretary may enter into two-year agreements as appropriate with such funding that are subject to the availability of annual appropriations: Provided further, That the Secretary may waive the provisions of section 202 governing the terms and conditions of project rental assistance, except that the initial contract term for such assistance shall not exceed 5 years in duration: Provided further, That upon request of the Secretary, project funds that are held in residual receipts accounts for any project subject to a section 202 project rental assistance contract, and that upon termination of such contract are in excess of an amount to be determined by the Secretary, shall be remitted to the Department and deposited in this account, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided further, That amounts deposited in this account pursuant to the preceding proviso shall be available, in addition to the amounts otherwise provided by this heading, for the purposes authorized under this heading: Provided further, That unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds transferred to or appropriated under this heading shall be available for the current purposes authorized under this heading in addition to the purposes for which such funds originally were appropriated: Provided further, That of the total amount made available under this heading, up to $4,000,000 shall be used by the Secretary to support preservation transactions of housing for the elderly originally developed with a capital advance and assisted by a project rental assistance contract under the provisions of section 202(c) of the Housing Act of 1959.

HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

For capital advances, including amendments to capital advance contracts, for supportive housing for persons with disabilities, as authorized by section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013), for project rental assistance for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811(d)(2) of such Act, for project assistance contracts pursuant to subsection (h) of section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as added by section 205(a) of the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 (Public Law 95–557: 92 Stat. 2090), including amendments to contracts for such assistance and renewal of expiring contracts for such assistance for up to a 5-year term, for project rental assistance to State housing finance agencies and other appropriate entities as authorized under section 811(b)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, for supportive services associated with the housing for persons with disabilities as authorized by section 811(b)(1) of such Act, and for administrative and other expenses associated with assistance funded under this heading, $265,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided, That, upon the request of the Secretary, project funds that are held in residual receipts accounts for any project subject to a section 811 project rental assistance contract, and that upon termination of such contract are in excess of an amount to be determined by the Secretary, shall be remitted to the Department and deposited in this account, to remain available until September 30, 2029: Provided further, That amounts deposited in this account pursuant to the preceding proviso shall be available in addition to the amounts otherwise provided by this heading for the purposes authorized under this heading: Provided further, That unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds transferred to or appropriated under this heading shall be used for the current purposes authorized under this heading in addition to the purposes for which such funds originally were appropriated.

HOUSING COUNSELING ASSISTANCE

For contracts, grants, and other assistance excluding loans, as authorized under section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, $57,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, including up to $4,500,000 for administrative contract services: Provided, That funds shall be used for providing counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners, both current and prospective, with respect to property maintenance, financial management or literacy, and such other matters as may be appropriate to assist them in improving their housing conditions, meeting their financial needs, and fulfilling the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership; for program administration; and for housing counselor training: Provided further, That for purposes of awarding grants from amounts provided under this heading, the Secretary may enter into multiyear agreements, as appropriate, subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

PAYMENT TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING FEES TRUST FUND

For necessary expenses as authorized by the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), up to $14,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which $14,000,000 shall be derived from the Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund (established under section 620(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5419(e)): Provided, That not to exceed the total amount appropriated under this heading shall be available from the general fund of the Treasury to the extent necessary to incur obligations and make expenditures pending the receipt of collections to the Fund pursuant to section 620 of such Act: Provided further, That the amount made available under this heading from the general fund shall be reduced as such collections are received during fiscal year 2026 so as to result in a final fiscal year 2026 appropriation from the general fund estimated at zero, and fees pursuant to such section 620 shall be modified as necessary to ensure such a final fiscal year 2026 appropriation: Provided further, That for the dispute resolution and installation programs, the Secretary may assess and collect fees from any program participant: Provided further, That such collections shall be deposited into the Trust Fund, and the Secretary, as provided herein, may use such collections, as well as fees collected under section 620 of such Act, for necessary expenses of such Act: Provided further, That, notwithstanding the requirements of section 620 of such Act, the Secretary may carry out responsibilities of the Secretary under such Act through the use of approved service providers that are paid directly by the recipients of their services.

Federal housing administration

MUTUAL MORTGAGE INSURANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

New commitments to guarantee single family loans insured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund shall not exceed $400,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That during fiscal year 2026, obligations to make direct loans to carry out the purposes of section 204(g) of the National Housing Act, as amended, shall not exceed $1,000,000: Provided further, That the foregoing amount in the preceding proviso shall be for loans to nonprofit and governmental entities in connection with sales of single family real properties owned by the Secretary and formerly insured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund: Provided further, That for administrative contract expenses of the Federal Housing Administration, $160,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided further, That to the extent guaranteed loan commitments exceed $200,000,000,000 on or before April 1, 2026, an additional $1,400 for administrative contract expenses shall be available for each $1,000,000 in additional guaranteed loan commitments (including a pro rata amount for any amount below $1,000,000), but in no case shall funds made available by this proviso exceed $30,000,000: Provided further, That notwithstanding the limitation in the first sentence of section 255(g) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–20(g)), during fiscal year 2026 the Secretary may insure and enter into new commitments to insure mortgages under section 255 of the National Housing Act only to the extent that the net credit subsidy cost for such insurance does not exceed zero.

GENERAL AND SPECIAL RISK PROGRAM ACCOUNT

New commitments to guarantee loans insured under the General and Special Risk Insurance Funds, as authorized by sections 238 and 519 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–3 and 1735c), shall not exceed $35,000,000,000 in total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That during fiscal year 2026, gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by sections 204(g), 207(l), 238, and 519(a) of the National Housing Act, shall not exceed $1,000,000, which shall be for loans to nonprofit and governmental entities in connection with the sale of single family real properties owned by the Secretary and formerly insured under such Act.

Government national mortgage association

GUARANTEES OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

New commitments to issue guarantees to carry out the purposes of section 306 of the National Housing Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1721(g)), shall not exceed $550,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That $56,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, shall be for necessary salaries and expenses of the Government National Mortgage Association: Provided further, That to the extent that guaranteed loan commitments exceed $155,000,000,000 on or before April 1, 2026, an additional $100 for necessary salaries and expenses shall be available until expended for each $1,000,000 in additional guaranteed loan commitments (including a pro rata amount for any amount below $1,000,000), but in no case shall funds made available by this proviso exceed $3,000,000: Provided further, That receipts from Commitment and Multiclass fees collected pursuant to title III of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1716 et seq.) shall be credited as offsetting collections to this account.

Policy development and research

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

For contracts, grants, and necessary expenses of programs of research and studies relating to housing and urban problems, not otherwise provided for, as authorized by title V of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 et seq.), including carrying out the functions of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under section 1(a)(1)(i) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1968, and for technical assistance, $131,028,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the amounts made available under this heading, $40,000,000 shall be for technical assistance, of which $5,000,000 shall be for the distressed cities technical assistance program: Provided further, That with respect to amounts made available under this heading, notwithstanding section 203 of this title, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with philanthropic entities, other Federal agencies, State or local governments and their agencies, Indian Tribes, Tribally designated housing entities, or colleges or universities for research projects: Provided further, That with respect to the preceding proviso, such partners to the cooperative agreements shall contribute at least a 50 percent match toward the cost of the project: Provided further, That for non-competitive agreements entered into in accordance with the preceding two provisos, the Secretary shall comply with section 2(b) of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–282; 31 U.S.C. note) in lieu of compliance with section 102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3545(a)(4)(C)) with respect to documentation of award decisions: Provided further, That of the total amounts provided under this heading, $15,000,000 shall be for competitive grants to nonprofit or governmental entities to provide legal assistance (including assistance related to pretrial activities, trial activities, post-trial activities and alternative dispute resolution) at no cost to eligible low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction: Provided further, That in awarding grants under the preceding proviso, the Secretary shall give preference to applicants that include a marketing strategy for residents of areas with high rates of eviction, have experience providing no-cost legal assistance to low-income individuals, and have sufficient capacity to administer such assistance: Provided further, That the Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the proportion of eligible tenants living in rural areas who will receive legal assistance with grant funds made available under this heading is not less than the overall proportion of eligible tenants who live in rural areas: Provided further, That the Department shall maintain on its publicly accessible website all completed research funded under this heading by this or any prior Act: Provided further, That the Department shall release and publish such research without regard to the findings within 6 months of submission of the final report.

Fair housing and equal opportunity

FAIR HOUSING ACTIVITIES

For contracts, grants, and other assistance, not otherwise provided for, as authorized by title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), section 561 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 3616a), and this heading, $86,355,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—

Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this heading may be used to lobby the executive or legislative branches of the Federal Government in connection with a specific contract, grant, or loan.

Office of lead hazard control and healthy homes

LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

For the lead hazard reduction program, as authorized by section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4852), the healthy homes initiative, pursuant to sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 and 1701z–2), and for related activities and assistance, $295,600,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the amounts made available under this heading are provided as follows:

Provided further, That for purposes of environmental review, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other provisions of law that further the purposes of such Act, a grant under the healthy homes initiative, or the lead technical studies program, or other demonstrations or programs under this heading or under prior appropriations Acts for such purposes under this heading, or under the heading Housing for the Elderly under prior Appropriations Acts, shall be considered to be funds for a special project for purposes of section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994: Provided further, That each applicant for a grant or cooperative agreement under this heading shall certify adequate capacity that is acceptable to the Secretary to carry out the proposed use of funds pursuant to a notice of funding opportunity: Provided further, That amounts made available under the fifth paragraph under this heading by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119–4) shall be transferred to and merged with the amounts provided under the fifth paragraph under the heading Public Housing Fund in this Act and prioritized for qualified projects where the primary purpose is radon testing and mitigation, except any transfer pursuant to this provision shall retain its original availability: Provided further, That amounts made available under this heading, in this or prior appropriations Acts, still remaining available, may be used for any purpose under this heading notwithstanding the purpose for which such amounts were appropriated if a program competition is undersubscribed and there are other program competitions under this heading that are oversubscribed.

Office of inspector general

For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $146,000,000: Provided, That the Inspector General shall have independent authority over all personnel and acquisition issues within this office.

General provisions—Department of housing and urban development

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Sec. 201.

Fifty percent of the amounts of budget authority, or in lieu thereof 50 percent of the cash amounts associated with such budget authority, that are recaptured from projects described in section 1012(a) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note) shall be rescinded or in the case of cash, shall be remitted to the Treasury, and such amounts of budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury shall be used by State housing finance agencies or local governments or local housing agencies with projects approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for which settlement occurred after January 1, 1992, in accordance with such section. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Secretary may award up to 15 percent of the budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury to provide project owners with incentives to refinance their project at a lower interest rate.

Sec. 202.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of a nonfrivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purpose of achieving or preventing action by a Government official or entity, or a court of competent jurisdiction.

Sec. 203.

Except as explicitly provided in law, any grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance made pursuant to title II of this Act shall be made on a competitive basis and in accordance with section 102 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3545).

Sec. 204.

Funds of the Department of Housing and Urban Development subject to the Government Corporation Control Act or section 402 of the Housing Act of 1950 shall be available, without regard to the limitations on administrative expenses, for legal services on a contract or fee basis, and for utilizing and making payment for services and facilities of the Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Financing Bank, Federal Reserve banks or any member thereof, Federal Home Loan banks, and any insured bank within the meaning of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1811–1).

Sec. 205.

Unless otherwise provided for in this Act or through a reprogramming of funds, no part of any appropriation for the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall be available for any program, project or activity in excess of amounts set forth in the budget estimates submitted to Congress.

Sec. 206.

Corporations and agencies of the Department of Housing and Urban Development which are subject to the Government Corporation Control Act are hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to each such corporation or agency and in accordance with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of such Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the budget for 2026 for such corporation or agency except as hereinafter provided: Provided, That collections of these corporations and agencies may be used for new loan or mortgage purchase commitments only to the extent expressly provided for in this Act (unless such loans are in support of other forms of assistance provided for in this or prior appropriations Acts), except that this proviso shall not apply to the mortgage insurance or guaranty operations of these corporations, or where loans or mortgage purchases are necessary to protect the financial interest of the United States Government.

Sec. 207.

None of the funds made available by this title may be used for an audit of the Government National Mortgage Association that makes applicable requirements under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).

Sec. 208.

Sec. 209.

No assistance shall be provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) to any individual who—

Sec. 210.

The funds made available for Native Alaskans under paragraph (1) under the heading Native American Programs in title II of this Act shall be allocated to the same Native Alaskan housing block grant recipients that received funds in fiscal year 2005, and only such recipients shall be eligible to apply for funds made available under paragraph (2) of such heading.

Sec. 211.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 2026, in managing and disposing of any multifamily property that is owned or has a mortgage held by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and during the process of foreclosure on any property with a contract for rental assistance payments under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) or any other Federal programs, the Secretary shall maintain any rental assistance payments under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and other programs that are attached to any dwelling units in the property. To the extent the Secretary determines, in consultation with the tenants and the local government that such a multifamily property owned or having a mortgage held by the Secretary is not feasible for continued rental assistance payments under such section 8 or other programs, based on consideration of (1) the costs of rehabilitating and operating the property and all available Federal, State, and local resources, including rent adjustments under section 524 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (in this section MAHRAA) (42 U.S.C. 1437f note), and (2) environmental conditions that cannot be remedied in a cost-effective fashion, the Secretary may, in consultation with the tenants of that property, contract for project-based rental assistance payments with an owner or owners of other existing housing properties, or provide other rental assistance. The Secretary shall also take appropriate steps to ensure that project-based contracts remain in effect prior to foreclosure, subject to the exercise of contractual abatement remedies to assist relocation of tenants for imminent major threats to health and safety after written notice to and informed consent of the affected tenants and use of other available remedies, such as partial abatements or receivership. After disposition of any multifamily property described in this section, the contract and allowable rent levels on such properties shall be subject to the requirements under section 524 of MAHRAA.

Sec. 212.

Public housing agencies that own and operate 400 or fewer public housing units may elect to be exempt from any asset management requirement imposed by the Secretary in connection with the operating fund rule: Provided, That an agency seeking a discontinuance of a reduction of subsidy under the operating fund formula shall not be exempt from asset management requirements.

Sec. 213.

With respect to the use of amounts provided in this Act and in future Acts for the operation, capital improvement, and management of public housing as authorized by sections 9(d) and 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d), (e)), the Secretary shall not impose any requirement or guideline relating to asset management that restricts or limits in any way the use of capital funds for central office costs pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of section 9(g) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(g)(1), (2)): Provided, That a public housing agency may not use capital funds authorized under section 9(d) for activities that are eligible under section 9(e) for assistance with amounts from the operating fund in excess of the amounts permitted under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 9(g).

Sec. 214.

No official or employee of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall be designated as an allotment holder unless the Office of the Chief Financial Officer has determined that such allotment holder has implemented an adequate system of funds control and has received training in funds control procedures and directives. The Chief Financial Officer shall ensure that there is a trained allotment holder for each HUD appropriation under the accounts Executive Offices, Administrative Support Offices, Program Offices, Government National Mortgage Association—Guarantees of Mortgage-Backed Securities Loan Guarantee Program Account, and Office of Inspector General within the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sec. 215.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for fiscal year 2026, the Secretary may make a notice of funding opportunity, and a notice of any funding decision, for any program or discretionary fund administered by the Secretary that is to be competitively awarded available only on the Internet at the appropriate Government website or through other electronic media, as determined by the Secretary.

Sec. 216.

Payment of attorney fees in program-related litigation shall be paid from the individual program office and Office of General Counsel salaries and expenses appropriations.

Sec. 217.

The Secretary is authorized to transfer up to 10 percent or $5,000,000, whichever is less, of funds appropriated for any office under the headings Administrative Support Offices or Program Offices to any other such office under such headings: Provided, That the Secretary shall provide notification to such Committees 5 business days in advance of any such transfers.

Sec. 218.

Such requirements shall apply to insured and noninsured projects with assistance attached to the units under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), but shall not apply to such units assisted under section 8(o)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) or to public housing units assisted with capital or operating funds under section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g).

The first report shall be submitted to the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations not later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act, and the second report shall be submitted within 180 days of the transmittal of the first report.

Sec. 219.

None of the funds made available by this Act, or any other Act, for purposes authorized under section 8 (only with respect to the tenant-based rental assistance program) and section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.), may be used by any public housing agency for any amount of salary, including bonuses, for the chief executive officer of which, or any other official or employee of which, that exceeds the annual rate of basic pay payable for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule at any time during any public housing agency fiscal year 2026.

Sec. 220.

None of the funds made available by this Act and provided to the Department of Housing and Urban Development may be used to make, modify the scope or terms and conditions of, terminate, rescind, or reduce a grant award unless the Secretary notifies the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full business days before any project, State, locality, housing authority, Tribe, nonprofit organization, or other entity selected to receive a grant award is announced or is notified of such changes by the Department or its offices: Provided, That such notification shall list each grant award and project description by State and congressional district.

Sec. 221.

None of the funds made available in this Act shall be used by the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association, or the Department of Housing and Urban Development to insure, securitize, or establish a Federal guarantee of any mortgage or mortgage backed security that refinances or otherwise replaces a mortgage that has been subject to eminent domain condemnation or seizure, by a State, municipality, or any other political subdivision of a State.

Sec. 222.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to terminate the status of a unit of general local government as a metropolitan city (as defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302)) with respect to grants under section 106 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5306).

Sec. 223.

Amounts made available by this Act that are appropriated, allocated, advanced on a reimbursable basis, or transferred to the Office of Policy Development and Research of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and functions thereof, for research, evaluation, or statistical purposes, and that are unexpended at the time of completion of a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, may be deobligated and shall immediately become available and may be reobligated in that fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year for the research, evaluation, or statistical purposes for which the amounts are made available to that Office subject to reprogramming requirements in section 405 of this Act.

Sec. 224.

None of the funds provided in this Act or any other Act may be used for awards, including performance, special act, or spot, for any employee of the Department of Housing and Urban Development subject to administrative discipline (including suspension from work), in this fiscal year, but this prohibition shall not be effective prior to the effective date of any such administrative discipline or after any final decision over-turning such discipline.

Sec. 225.

With respect to grant amounts awarded under the heading Homeless Assistance Grants for fiscal years 2015 through 2026 for the continuum of care (CoC) program as authorized under subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, costs paid by program income of grant recipients may count toward meeting the recipient’s matching requirements, provided the costs are eligible CoC costs that supplement the recipient's CoC program.

Sec. 226.

Sec. 227.

The promise zone designations and promise zone designation agreements entered into pursuant to such designations, made by the Secretary in prior fiscal years, shall remain in effect in accordance with the terms and conditions of such agreements (including designation and agreement time periods).

Sec. 228.

Any public housing agency designated as a Moving to Work agency pursuant to section 239 of division L of Public Law 114–113 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; 129 Stat. 2897) may, upon such designation, use funds (except for special purpose funding, including special purpose vouchers) previously allocated to any such public housing agency under section 8 or 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, including any reserve funds held by the public housing agency or funds held by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, pursuant to the authority for use of section 8 or 9 funding provided under such section and section 204 of title II of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law 104–134; 110 Stat. 1321–28), notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds were appropriated.

Sec. 229.

None of the amounts made available by this Act may be used to prohibit any public housing agency under receivership or the direction of a Federal monitor from applying for, receiving, or using funds made available under the heading Public Housing Fund for competitive grants to evaluate and reduce lead-based paint hazards in this Act or that remain available and not awarded from prior Acts, or be used to prohibit a public housing agency from using such funds to carry out any required work pursuant to a settlement agreement, consent decree, voluntary agreement, or similar document for a violation of the lead safe housing or lead disclosure rules.

Sec. 230.

For fiscal year 2026, if the Secretary determines or has determined, for any prior formula grant allocation administered by the Secretary through the Offices of Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, or Housing, that a recipient received an allocation greater than the amount such recipient should have received for a formula allocation cycle pursuant to applicable statutes and regulations, the Secretary may adjust for any such funding error in the next applicable formula allocation cycle by (a) offsetting each such recipient’s formula allocation (if eligible for a formula allocation in the next applicable formula allocation cycle) by the amount of any such funding error, and (b) reallocating any available balances that are attributable to the offset to the recipient or recipients that would have been allocated additional funds in the formula allocation cycle in which any such error occurred (if such recipient or recipients are eligible for a formula allocation in the next applicable formula allocation cycle) in an amount proportionate to such recipient’s eligibility under the next applicable formula allocation cycle: Provided, That all offsets and reallocations from such available balances shall be recorded against funds available for the next applicable formula allocation cycle: Provided further, That the term next applicable formula allocation cycle means the first formula allocation cycle for a program that is reasonably available for correction following such a Secretarial determination: Provided further, That if, upon request by a recipient and giving consideration to all Federal resources available to the recipient for the same grant purposes, the Secretary determines that the offset in the next applicable formula allocation cycle would critically impair the recipient’s ability to accomplish the purpose of the formula grant, the Secretary may adjust for the funding error across two or more formula allocation cycles.

Sec. 231.

The Secretary may transfer from amounts made available for salaries and expenses under this title (excluding amounts made available under the heading Office of Inspector General) to the heading Information Technology Fund for unforeseen information technology needs, including for additional development, modernization, and enhancement, to remain available until September 30, 2028: Provided, That the total amount of such transfers shall not exceed $5,000,000: Provided further, That this transfer authority shall not be used to fund information technology projects or activities that have known out-year development, modernization, or enhancement costs in excess of $500,000: Provided further, That this transfer authority shall not be used to allocate costs across offices for broader departmental information technology needs: Provided further, That the Secretary shall provide notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no fewer than 10 business days in advance of any such transfer.

Sec. 232.

The Secretary shall comply with all process requirements, including public notice and comment, when seeking to revise any annual contributions contract: Provided, That the Secretary shall provide public housing authorities not less than 60 days for public comment, and the Secretary shall consider and respond to submitted comments.

Sec. 233.

Amounts made available to the Secretary in this or any prior Act under the headings Project-Based Rental Assistance or Housing Certificate Fund for performance-based contract administrators to carry out section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1437f), as implemented by the Secretary in chapter VIII of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, may be awarded through a notice of funding opportunity not subject to procurement laws or regulations, notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code: Provided, That such awards shall be deemed for all purposes to be cooperative agreements: Provided further, That the Secretary shall award one cooperative agreement for each State or territory, except that the Secretary may award more than one agreement for a State or territory if the population of such State or territory exceeds 35,000,000: Provided further, That any cooperative agreements issued by the Secretary shall, at minimum, assign the rights and responsibilities as provided in section 8 of the Act: Provided further, That the Secretary shall assign such rights and responsibilities to the furthest extent possible to ensure effective and efficient program oversight and monitoring: Provided further, That when selecting a performance-based contract administrator, the Secretary shall provide a preference to applicants that have demonstrated experience with properties receiving project-based assistance, experience in multifamily housing preservation, addressing the concerns of low-income tenants, making assistance payments to owners, and performing the other functions assigned to a public housing agency under section 8(b) of the Act: Provided further, That if, for any State or territory, no qualified applicant applies under the relevant notice of funding opportunity, the Secretary may utilize a procurement contract subject to all procurement laws and regulations to assist in carrying out section 8 of the Act in such State or territory: Provided further, That the Secretary shall provide for incentive-based fees as part of such awards: Provided further, That for notice of funding opportunity-based awards under this section, eligible applicants are public housing agencies as defined by section 3(b)(6)(A) of the Act, which shall include nonprofits of such agencies when operating outside of the State or territory in which such agency is established.

Sec. 234.

None of the amounts made available in this or prior Acts may be used to consider family self-sufficiency achievement metrics (FAM) in determining funding awards for programs receiving family self-sufficiency program coordinator funding provided in this or prior Acts except to provide bonus awards as expressly made available in this or prior Acts for self-sufficiency programs assigned a ranking of performance category 1 based on their publicly available FAM scores.

Sec. 235.

The Secretary may, upon a finding that a waiver or alternative requirement is necessary for the effective delivery and administration of funds made available for new incremental voucher assistance or renewals for the mainstream program and the family unification program (including the foster youth to independence program) in this and prior Acts, waive or specify alternative requirements, other than requirements related to tenant rights and protections, rent setting, fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment, for—

Sec. 236.

The Secretary shall fulfill their responsibilities to enforce the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.): Provided, That none of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to direct a grantee to undertake specific changes to existing zoning laws as part of carrying out the interim final rule entitled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Revisions (90 Fed. Reg. 11020 (March 3, 2025).

Sec. 237.

The whistleblower protections in section 4712 of title 41, United States Code, shall apply to any contract, subcontract, grant, subgrant, or personal services contract funded from amounts made available in this or prior Acts (including carryover and recaptures), regardless of when the agreement was executed.

Sec. 238.

Sec. 239.

Sec. 240.

Amounts made available for the Office of Housing under the heading Program Offices in this and prior Acts shall also be available, without additional competition, for cooperative agreements with participating administrative entities that have been selected under section 513(b) of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note) (MAHRAA) to provide direct support, including carrying out due diligence and underwriting functions for owners and for technical assistance activities, on conditions established by the Secretary for small properties and owners converting assistance under the first component or the second component under the heading Rental Assistance Demonstration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (title II of division C of Public Law 112–55).

Sec. 241.

None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be used to close or relocate any field or regional office, unless such action is provided for in this Act or the report accompanying this Act: Provided, That the Secretary shall maintain at least one adequately staffed and functional field office in each state, consistent with section 1735f–12 of title 12, United States Code, with no fewer than one full-time employee per field office, except for short-term periods of normal staffing turnover.

Sec. 242.

The Secretary shall conduct all rulemaking in accordance with the policies of part 10 of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations and Executive Order 12866, as amended, including providing for public participation and not less than 60 days for the submission of written comments.

Sec. 243.

Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report that provides a list of (1) each grant, federally funded cooperative agreement, and contract that was obligated and subsequently terminated or reduced in scope in fiscal year 2025, and remains terminated or reduced in scope as of the date of enactment of this Act, and (2) each grant, federally funded cooperative agreement, and contract for which the terms and conditions of agreements were changed or modified in fiscal year 2025: Provided, That such report shall include an explanation for each termination or modification, the recipient, the location of the project or service, and the source of funding.

Sec. 244.

For fiscal year 2026, the costs of any rent incentives as authorized pursuant to waivers or alternative requirements of the jobs-plus initiative as described under the heading Self-Sufficiency Programs shall not be charged against the competitive grant amounts made available under such heading: Provided, That the amount of any forgone increases in tenant rent payments due to the implementation of such rent incentives shall be factored into the public housing agency’s general operating fund eligibility pursuant to the formula under the heading Public Housing Fund: Provided further, That the amount of any foregone increases in tenant rent payments due to the implementation of such rent incentives implemented on behalf of residents of a project with assistance converted from public housing to project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) or assistance under section 8(o)(13) of such Act under the heading Rental Assistance Demonstration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (title II of division C of Public Law 112–55), as amended (42 U.S.C. 1437f note) shall be factored into (1) housing assistance payments made pursuant to project-based subsidy contracts provided under the heading Project-Based Rental Assistance; and (2) housing assistance payments made by public housing agencies pursuant to project-based assistance contracts under section 8(o)(13) of such Act, with these costs being renewed under the heading Tenant-Based Rental Assistance.

Sec. 245.

Sec. 246.

Sec. 247.

Sec. 248.

Section 105 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(j) Special activities by indian tribes

Indian Tribes receiving grants under section 5306(a)(1) of this title (section 106(a)(1) of this Act) shall be authorized to carry out activities described in subsection (a)(15) directly.

Sec. 249.

Sec. 250.

If this Act is enacted on or before September 30, 2025, the remaining unobligated balances, as of September 30, 2025, from amounts made available under the heading Fair Housing Activities in division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118–42) are hereby permanently rescinded, and an amount of additional new budget authority equivalent to the amount rescinded is hereby appropriated on September 30, 2025, to remain available until September 30, 2026, and shall be available for completing the funding of awards made pursuant to the fiscal year 2024 fair housing initiatives program under section 561 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 3616a), in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes: Provided, That this section shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act.

This title may be cited as the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2026.

Access Board

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For expenses necessary for the Access Board, as authorized by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792), $9,955,000: Provided, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, there may be credited to this appropriation funds received for publications and training expenses.

Federal maritime commission

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of the Federal Maritime Commission as authorized by section 46107 of title 46, United States Code, including services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; hire of passenger motor vehicles as authorized by section 1343(b) of title 31, United States Code; and uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code, $40,000,000, of which $2,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2027: Provided, That not to exceed $3,500 shall be for official reception and representation expenses.

National railroad passenger corporation

Office of inspector general

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. Chapter 4), $29,240,000: Provided, That the Inspector General shall have all necessary authority, in carrying out the duties specified in such Act, to investigate allegations of fraud, including false statements to the Government under section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, by any person or entity that is subject to regulation by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation: Provided further, That the Inspector General may enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other services with public agencies and with private persons, subject to the applicable laws and regulations that govern the obtaining of such services within the National Railroad Passenger Corporation: Provided further, That the Inspector General may select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General, subject to the applicable laws and regulations that govern such selections, appointments, and employment within the National Railroad Passenger Corporation: Provided further, That concurrent with the President’s budget request for fiscal year 2027, the Inspector General shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a budget request for fiscal year 2027 in similar format and substance to budget requests submitted by executive agencies of the Federal Government.

National transportation safety board

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of the National Transportation Safety Board, including hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for a GS–15; uniforms, or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code, $145,000,000, of which not to exceed $1,000 may be used for official reception and representation expenses.

Neighborhood reinvestment corporation

PAYMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD REINVESTMENT CORPORATION

For payment to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation for use in neighborhood reinvestment activities, as authorized by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act (42 U.S.C. 8101–8107), $158,000,000: Provided, That the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation shall notify network organizations of their full formula grant award by the latter of 60 days after enactment of this Act or March 1, 2026.

Surface transportation board

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of the Surface Transportation Board, including services authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, $40,799,000: Provided, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, not to exceed $1,250,000 from fees established by the Surface Transportation Board shall be credited to this appropriation as offsetting collections and used for necessary and authorized expenses under this heading: Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading from the general fund shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis as such offsetting collections are received during fiscal year 2026, to result in a final appropriation from the general fund estimated at not more than $39,549,000.

United states interagency council on homelessness

OPERATING EXPENSES

For necessary expenses, including payment of salaries, authorized travel, hire of passenger motor vehicles, the rental of conference rooms, and the employment of experts and consultants under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (in this heading the Council) in carrying out the functions pursuant to title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, $2,000,000: Provided, That the Council shall be staffed in accordance with section 11313(a)(5) of title 42, United States Code, and regional coordinators shall have the proven expertise and demonstrated experience needed to carry out the duties specified in such section: Provided further, That each meeting of the Council shall be open to the public, and the Council shall post a public notification of each Council meeting not less than 30 days in advance of each meeting on its website and include the agenda for each meeting in such posting.

Sec. 401.

None of the funds in this Act shall be used for the planning or execution of any program to pay the expenses of, or otherwise compensate, non-Federal parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act.

Sec. 402.

None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year, nor may any be transferred to other appropriations, unless expressly so provided herein.

Sec. 403.

The expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through a procurement contract pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under existing Executive Order issued pursuant to existing law.

Sec. 404.

Sec. 405.

Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the report accompanying this Act, and unless the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are notified in writing at least 30 days in advance of any reprogramming of funds and provide prior written approval, none of the funds provided in this Act or provided by previous appropriations Acts to the agencies or entities funded in this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2026, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of fees and available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming of funds that—

Sec. 406.

Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the report accompanying this Act, the Departments and agencies funded in this Act shall not relocate an office or reduce personnel as a result of a reduction-in-force, deferred resignation program, use of administrative leave for purposes unrelated to misconduct, or other workforce restructuring, unless the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are notified 30 days before such changes are initiated.

Sec. 407.

The Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations:

Sec. 408.

Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances remaining available at the end of fiscal year 2026 from appropriations made available for salaries and expenses for fiscal year 2026 in this Act, shall remain available through September 30, 2027, for each such account for the purposes authorized: Provided, That a request shall be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations for approval prior to the expenditure of such funds: Provided further, That these requests shall be made in compliance with reprogramming guidelines under section 405 of this Act.

Sec. 409.

No funds in this Act may be used to support any Federal, State, or local projects that seek to use the power of eminent domain, unless eminent domain is employed only for a public use: Provided, That for purposes of this section, public use shall not be construed to include economic development that primarily benefits private entities: Provided further, That any use of funds for mass transit, railroad, airport, seaport or highway projects, as well as utility projects which benefit or serve the general public (including energy-related, communication-related, water-related and wastewater-related infrastructure), other structures designated for use by the general public or which have other common-carrier or public-utility functions that serve the general public and are subject to regulation and oversight by the government, and projects for the removal of an immediate threat to public health and safety or brownfields as defined in the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Public Law 107–118) shall be considered a public use for purposes of eminent domain.

Sec. 410.

None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriations Act.

Sec. 411.

No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 8301–8305, popularly known as the Buy American Act).

Sec. 412.

No funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act shall be made available to any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 8301–8305).

Sec. 413.

None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for first-class airline accommodations in contravention of sections 301–10.122 and 301–10.123 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations.

Sec. 414.

None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to send or otherwise pay for the attendance of more than 50 employees of a single agency or department of the United States Government, who are stationed in the United States, at any single international conference unless the relevant Secretary reports to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations at least 5 days in advance that such attendance is important to the national interest: Provided, That for purposes of this section the term international conference shall mean a conference occurring outside of the United States attended by representatives of the United States Government and of foreign governments, international organizations, or nongovernmental organizations.

Sec. 415.

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act may be used by the Surface Transportation Board to charge or collect any filing fee for rate or practice complaints filed with the Board in an amount in excess of the amount authorized for district court civil suit filing fees under section 1914 of title 28, United States Code.

Sec. 416.

Sec. 417.

Sec. 418.

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to pay award or incentive fees for contractors whose performance has been judged to be below satisfactory, behind schedule, over budget, or has failed to meet the basic requirements of a contract, unless the Agency determines that any such deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven scope changes, or are not significant within the overall scope of the project and/or program unless such awards or incentive fees are consistent with 16.401(e)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Sec. 419.

No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be available to pay the salary for any person filling a position, other than a temporary position, formerly held by an employee who has left to enter the Armed Forces of the United States and has satisfactorily completed his or her period of active military or naval service, and has within 90 days after his or her release from such service or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for a period of not more than 1 year, made application for restoration to his or her former position and has been certified by the Office of Personnel Management as still qualified to perform the duties of his or her former position and has not been restored thereto.

Sec. 420.

Sec. 421.

Sec. 422.

Sec. 423.

Each Department and agency funded in this Act shall maintain on its publicly accessible website:

Sec. 424.

The congressional budget justifications for fiscal year 2027 to be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations shall —

Sec. 425.

No later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Departments and agencies funded under this Act shall submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on current staffing levels for all political and Presidential appointees in such Departments and agencies and categorized by which office within such Departments and agencies such employee is funded from, the office in which such employee carries out their daily work, such employee’s title, and such employee’s pay grade or the equivalent level based on the GS-scale.

Sec. 426.

Sec. 427.

If this Act is enacted on or before September 30, 2025, the remaining unobligated balances, as of September 30, 2025, from amounts made available for United States Interagency Council on Homelessness—Operating Expenses under Public Law 119–4, for fiscal year 2025 are hereby permanently rescinded, and an amount of additional new budget authority equivalent to the amount rescinded pursuant to this section is hereby appropriated on September 30, 2025, for an additional amount for fiscal year 2025, to remain available until September 30, 2026, and shall be available in addition to other funds as may be available for such purposes: Provided, That this section shall become effective immediately upon enactment of this Act.

This Act may be cited as the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.