Why It Matters

The American Public Transportation Association is lobbying as Congress approaches a key surface transportation deadline. Federal public transit funding authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is scheduled to expire Sept. 30, placing renewed attention on reauthorization efforts.

The association's second-quarter 2026 lobbying disclosure, filed July 16, comes as transit agencies continue facing financial pressures from lower ridership, reduced fare revenue and the exhaustion of COVID-19 emergency relief funding.

By the Numbers

The American Public Transportation Association reported $660,000 in second-quarter 2026 lobbying expenditures, according to a disclosure filed July 16, 2026. The organization maintains an in-house lobbying operation with eight registered lobbyists: Stacie Tiongson, Mark Hybner, Ward McCarragher, Katie Mabry, TaNeesha Johnson, Benji Schwartz, Jillian Kinder and Melissa Newton.

The association's lobbying team includes several former congressional staff members with transportation policy experience. Tiongson, senior director of government affairs, spent 11 years on Capitol Hill, including as deputy chief counsel for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. McCarragher, vice president of government affairs and advocacy, served 18 years in Congress, including on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Hybner previously worked for former Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. According to his lobbyist registration, Schwartz has no prior government experience.

Over the past year, the association has reported approximately $2.45 million in lobbying expenditures across five disclosure filings, reflecting sustained federal advocacy on transportation policy.

The Agenda

The association's second-quarter filing does not identify specific legislative issues.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized funding for public transportation programs through Sept. 30, making reauthorization a central issue for transit agencies and industry organizations.

Separately, Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah) introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act, which would clarify dispute resolution requirements for public transit agency safety committees established under Federal Transit Administration regulations. The American Public Transportation Association has endorsed the legislation.

The Bottom Line

The American Public Transportation Association increased its federal lobbying activity during the second quarter of 2026 as Congress prepares to consider the future of federal public transit funding. With existing authorization set to expire at the end of September, the organization is relying on an experienced in-house lobbying team to advocate for transit priorities during the reauthorization process.

Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article