8/25/2021: On 8/24/21, the US House of Representatives approved a procedural resolution that provided, among other things, that the House will vote on approval of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by September 27 at the latest.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement "committing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill by September 27. I do so with a commitment to rally House Democratic support for its passage. Passing an infrastructure bill is always exciting for what it means in terms of jobs and commerce in our Country." House Democratic leaders have been navigating calls from more moderate members to pass the Senate infrastructure bill immediately, while many progressive members continue to insist on passage of the broader $3.5 trillion budget package before approving the infrastructure bill.
At this point, it does not look like the House will attempt to make changes to the Senate bill. It would be an up-or-down vote. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio has expressed his intent to advance components of his bill and other House Democratic priorities in the context of the budget reconciliation package.
ACEC is working in collaboration with many industry and stakeholder allies in rallying House support for passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Time is of the essence, as current surface transportation programs expire on September 30.
If you missed them last week, be sure to download and listen to our recent government affairs podcasts: an interview with House T&I Committee Chairman DeFazio, and a conversation with former T&I Chairman Bill Shuster and former DOT Secretary Rodney Slater. They are compelling discussions with leading policy experts on a wide range of transportation issues. Very much worth your time to listen.
8/19/21: On the Engineering Influence podcast, ACEC President/CEO Linda Bauer Darr discusses a wide range of industry issues with House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), including the infrastructure bill negotiations, the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, the PPP/FAR Credits Clause, and future legislation.
White House Fact Sheet on Massachusetts: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MASSACHUSETTS_Infrastructure-Investment-and-Jobs-Act-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf
8/10/21: Senate Bill: The US Senate voted 69-30 to approve a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, a historic piece of legislation that could reshape American lives for decades. The Senate bill includes a five-year authorization of surface transportation programs as well as investments across a range of infrastructure categories. Highlights include:
- $350 billion for highway programs,
- $107 billion for transit,
- $66 billion for rail,
- $25 billion for airports,
- $65 billion in broadband investment, and
- $55 billion for water infrastructure.
For the water industry, $55 billion of the $550 billion will go towards clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The bill’s provisions for the water sector include:
- $11.713 billion each for both the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) for a total of $23.5 billion in new federal investment;
- An additional $1 billion through the CWSRF and $4 billion through the DWSRF to address emerging contaminants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS);
- $15 billion through the DWSRF to address lead in drinking water;
- Reauthorizing the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Grants program at increased funding levels;
- And at least $25 million per year to improve access to running water in Tribal nations and disadvantaged communities.
House Bill Background: On July 3, 2021, the US House passed the $720B INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684), which includes a five-year $592B surface transportation reauthorization, $54B for clean water infrastructure, and $105B over 10 years for drinking water infrastructure and the replacement of lead service lines.
In the coming months the House and the Senate will have to work out the differences between the two bills. Stay tuned.
On March 31, 2021, President Joe Biden released a detailed summary of his physical infrastructure plan, called the American Jobs Plan. Here are highlights of the plan:
- $621 billion for transportation
- $115 billion for bridges, highways and roads
- $20 billion for roadway safety
- $85 billion for transit
- $80 billion for Amtrak and rail programs
- $25 billion for airport improvements
- $25 billion for a dedicated fund to support ambitious projects that have tangible benefits to the regional or national economy but are too large or complex for existing funding programs
- $17 billion for ports and inland waterways
- $20 billion for transportation infrastructure in disadvantaged communities
- $174 billion for electrification: point of sale rebates and tax incentives for EV consumers, and incentive programs and grants for state and local government and the private sector to build a network of charging stations.
- $50 billion for infrastructure resilience
- $45 billion for drinking water SRF and grants
- $56 billion for wastewater and stormwater grants and loans
- $100 billion for broadband deployment, including infrastructure in underserved communities as well as short-term subsidies for service costs for low income households
- $100 billion to build a more resilient electric grid, along with a 10-year extension and phase-down of an expanded, refundable investment tax credit and production tax credit for renewable energy generation and storage
- $100 billion to improve public school buildings
- $213 billion for affordable housing construction and renovation
- $18 billion for the modernization of VA hospitals and clinics
- $10 billion for the modernization, sustainability, and resilience of federal buildings
- $5 billion for Brownfield and Superfund site remediation and redevelopment
Revenue increases:
- The plan proposes $2 trillion in tax increases on corporations.
- These include raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, and additional tax increases on multinational corporations.
We expect similar tax increases on passthrough businesses in the 'social infrastructure' bill that will follow, through provisions such as raising the top individual tax rate from 37% to 39.6% and eliminating the Section 199A passthrough tax deduction for any taxpayers who earn more than $400,000. Although timing on this second bill has not yet been announced it could be released in mid-April.