The American Jobs Plan was released March 31 by the White House and unsurprisingly drew mixed reactions from congressional leaders. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the plan “a visionary, once-in-a-century investment in the American people” and vowed to get a bill through the House of Representatives by July 4. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) cast doubt on Republican support, stating “my view of infrastructure is we ought to build that which we can afford, and not either whack the economy with major tax increases or run up the national debt even more.” Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who will play a critical role in any infrastructure package discussions, had a different take. “Infrastructure, my God, when you think about it, that pothole doesn’t have an R or D name on it, it’ll blow your tire and ruin your car, it doesn’t care,” Manchin said. “So, don’t you think infrastructure is something that could bring us together?”
Simply maintaining federal surface transportation program funding at current levels would require finding $70 billion for the Highway Trust Fund. Top White House and administration officials told senior ARTBA staff this week their proposal reflected a set of “principles.” The House and Senate will still be responsible for drafting and passing a bill. If the measure does not receive any Republican support, congressional Democrats are expected to use reconciliation, a complicated process that requires only a simple majority vote in the Senate for passage.
The Biden administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget is expected later this month. Procedural obstacles are being addressed in the Senate to at least allow for consideration of what would be a historic infrastructure funding initiative. As the Administration and congressional leaders sell the concept to the American people, House and Senate committees prepare surface transportation legislation on their own. The federal highway and transit expire on September 30 so the clock is ticking on congressional action this summer on a 10 year infrastructure plan.
Simply maintaining federal surface transportation program funding at current levels would require finding $70 billion for the Highway Trust Fund. Top White House and administration officials told senior ARTBA staff this week their proposal reflected a set of “principles.” The House and Senate will still be responsible for drafting and passing a bill. If the measure does not receive any Republican support, congressional Democrats are expected to use reconciliation, a complicated process that requires only a simple majority vote in the Senate for passage.
The Biden administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget is expected later this month. Procedural obstacles are being addressed in the Senate to at least allow for consideration of what would be a historic infrastructure funding initiative. As the Administration and congressional leaders sell the concept to the American people, House and Senate committees prepare surface transportation legislation on their own. The federal highway and transit expire on September 30 so the clock is ticking on congressional action this summer on a 10 year infrastructure plan.