This week, former US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater appeared on Bloomberg Radio to discuss the latest state of play on President Biden’s proposed infrastructure deal and the importance of infrastructure investment in the future of US competitiveness and prosperity.
Also this week, as the Senate drafts the legislative text for both the bipartisan infrastructure framework and a budget resolution, the White House states the process for floor consideration could begin as early as in the next two weeks.
What we are hearing: The bipartisan group of Senators have divided into a series of “working groups” to flesh out the legislative infrastructure framework. These groups include: public transit, low-carbon buses, airports, port infrastructure, infrastructure financing authority, resiliency, water infrastructure, broadband, power infrastructure, permitting, superfund and brownfields, and payfors.
What the White House is saying:
- Promoting infrastructure agenda in Illinois
- Floor consideration could be as early as July 19
- Deferring to Committee chairs on earmarks
- BIF (bipartisan infrastructure framework) creates economic opportunities for rural America
What Members are saying:
- Schumer prepares Senators for long nights
- Budget Committees drafting budget resolution
- Problem Solvers Caucus endorses bipartisan framework
- Conservative groups challenge BIF
- Garcia demands immigration reform in reconciliation package
- Wyden drafting alternate plan to offset infrastructure deal
- Coalition of more than 300 trade groups backs BIF
Key dates:
- End of summer. The House and Senate surface transportation and reauthorization bills may go to conference by the end of summer.
- August 7. Tentative start date for Congressional August recess.
- September 30. FY21 government funding and other significant programs expire, including surface transportation authorization (FAST Act), National Flood Insurance Program, Transportation Security Administration, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Week of June 14, 2021
This week, 20 Senators backed a bipartisan infrastructure proposal; progressive lawmakers are conditioning their support on the inclusion of climate provisions and a guarantee of a larger reconciliation bill. Senate Majority Leader Schumer continues his “two-track” approach and prepares a $6 trillion reconciliation package; our colleague, former US Secretary of Transportation, Rodney E. Slater, appeared on Bloomberg’s Balance of Power with David Westin to discuss the path forward on US infrastructure – listen here.
What we are hearing: Senate surface transportation earmarks
What the White House is saying:
- Reevaluating bipartisan negotiations in 10 days
- There’s room for a deal
What the Members are saying:
- Bipartisan proposal backed by 20 Senators unveiled
- Schumer continues two-track strategy; prepares $6 trillion reconciliation bill
- Progressives demand climate provisions and guarantee of larger reconciliation bill
- Senate Commerce advances its portion of the Senate surface transportation reauthorization bill
- Moderates caution Pelosi on spending
Here is the updated comparison chart on current infrastructure and surface transportation reauthorization proposals (updated as of June 17, 2021):
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Drop us a line here if you would like to get our in-depth analysis, or have any questions.
Week of June 7, 2021
This week, our colleague and former US Secretary of Transportation, Rodney E. Slater, appeared on CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange to discuss the US infrastructure bill that is currently at a stalemate.
Click on image to watch the segment
Our Public Policy Practice is tracking every move on the infrastructure proposals and the surface transportation bill – the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act – reauthorization. Here is our latest comparative analysis.
Follow this blog for continuous updates.
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