On Thursday, the Senate approved legislation to fund the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development for FY 2016.  The bill provides $17.78 billion in FY 2016 discretionary appropriations for the Department of Transportation, $17 million below the FY 2015 enacted level, and $3.9 billion below the President’s budget request.  Notably, the bill funds TIGER Grants at $500 million, significantly higher than the $100 million in the House-passed appropriations bill.  The bill also funds Amtrak capital grants at $1.1 billion, compared with $850 million in the House bill.  The Community Development Block Grant program is funded at $2.9 billion, slightly less than the House level of $3 billion.