The U.S. House of Representatives today passed its fourth 2015 appropriations bill, this one funding the departments of Transportation as well as Housing and Urban Development.

It was a 229-192 vote, heavily along party lines in the Republican-controlled body.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii voted against the bill while her colleague, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, was among 14 Democrats joining the GOP to pass the bill.

Hanabusa spoke on the House floor to ask the Appropriations Committee to reinstate funding for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant.

The grant helps low-income Native Hawaiian families with “down payment assistance, direct loans for first-time home buyers, and infrastructure development,” according to Hanabusa’s office.

The U.S. Capitol, October 2014.

Chad Blair/Civil Beat

“A disruption to the stream of funding for NHHBG would have a dire impact on dozens of on-going development projects, including alternative energy resources for homes, investments in infrastructures, and low-interest rate loans that seek to benefit the thousands of families living on Hawaiian home lands,” she said.

The funding had been cut from the bill, and Republicans elected not to reinstate it.

In a statement to Civil Beat, Gabbard said, “While the House-passed version of the bill is far from perfect, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding legislation provides much-needed resources for rebuilding our transportation infrastructure and providing shelter for our most vulnerable citizens. Funding transportation, infrastructure, and housing projects significantly stimulates local economies.”

Gabbard continued: “With more than a $1.2 billion increase in funding from last year, the $52 billion included in the bill will help to grow the economy and create good paying jobs and business opportunities. As this bill goes to conference, I will continue to push for further improvements, such as reinstatement of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block grant program.”

The Obama administration opposes the appropriations bill, which heads to the Senate for consideration.

“The bill, known as THUD, includes $15.7 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration and $1.4 billion for Amtrak,” according to The Hill. “It would also provide $6.2 billion for Community Planning and Development programs, which would be $383 million less than the current spending level.”

The action on the Hill came on the same day that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was upset by a tea party candidate in the Virginia primary. Cantor did not vote on the appropriations bill.