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House Transportation Committee: veto of $70M state match could put up to $600M in federal transportation funds at risk
Summary
Co-chairs of the Alaska House Transportation Committee questioned the Department of Transportation’s absence at a hearing and warned that the governor’s veto of $70 million in reappropriated capital funds could jeopardize roughly $500–$600 million in federal matching dollars tied to highway, aviation and marine projects.
Representative Karen (co-chair, House Transportation Committee) and Co-chair Representative Eisheide pressed the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) for answers after the governor vetoed $70,000,000 in reappropriated capital matching funds, which committee members said could put roughly $500 million to $600 million in federal matching dollars at risk. The committee held the hearing with DOT officials absent and then moved into an executive session to continue discussion.
The reappropriated funds were explained by Representatives as intended to secure federal matches for Federal Highway and Federal Aviation programs. Representative Karen said, “Without the state's contribution of $70,000,000 in reappropriated funds, The state is not eligible for 600,000,000 in federal dollars.” She described the veto as having a direct impact on projects planned for the 2026 construction season and said the Legislature may need to appropriate the matching funds in a supplemental budget in January to secure the…
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