Transportation and infrastructure
Roads, transit, water, broadband, and disaster response.
Congress supplies much of the money; your state and local governments decide what gets built. The federal highway and transit programs flow through state departments of transportation, which set priorities.
Who decides this
- Congress
- Surface transportation funding, aviation and rail policy, federal disaster response, and broadband programs.
- Your state
- Which projects get built, the state department of transportation budget, transit funding, and road standards.
- Your city or county
- Local streets, bus and rail service levels, sidewalks and bike lanes, and water and sewer systems.
In Congress Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation · Senate Environment and Public Works · House Transportation and Infrastructure
4 open questions
H.R. 8870
Should Congress pass the five-year BUILD America 250 highway and transit bill?
The federal highway, transit, and rail programs authorized by the 2021 infrastructure law were set to expire September 30, 2026. The stopgap funding law signed September 2 extended them only to December 11, 2026. The House's five-year replacement, the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), was reported from committee 62-2 in May at a topline committee summaries put near $580 billion and would set national surface transportation policy into the 2030s. It awaits a tax-committee piece on Highway Trust Fund financing before a floor vote, and the Senate has not released its own bill. Supporters and critics disagree over its balance between highways and transit, rail, and clean-transportation programs. Where do you stand?
H.R. 4669
Should FEMA become an independent, cabinet-level agency?
The FEMA Act (H.R. 4669) would pull FEMA out of the Department of Homeland Security and reestablish it as an independent, cabinet-level agency, while streamlining disaster aid — block-grant options, faster debris removal, and simpler help for survivors. The House committee approved it 57-3, and with a new FEMA administrator confirmed and hurricane season peaking, pressure is building for a floor vote. Supporters say independence cuts red tape and speeds aid; critics say the federal disaster role should shrink, not grow. Where do you stand?
H.R. 5857
Should Farmers Have a Right to Repair Their Own Tractors and Equipment?
The bill would require makers to provide parts, tools, and software for farm-equipment repair. Supporters cite cost and independence; opponents cite safety and intellectual property. Where do you land?
Federal policy
Should Federal Dollars Favor Transit and Walkability?
Federal transportation funding still flows overwhelmingly to car infrastructure. Some want safe streets, transit, and mixed-use development prioritized; others say roads serve how most Americans actually travel. Where do you stand?
Common questions
- Who decides whether a road near me gets fixed?
- Your state DOT for state highways and your city or county for local streets. Federal money funds much of it but does not pick the projects.