Since it returned to session on Sept. 20, the U.S. Congress is attempting to address two major infrastructure spending plans within a very tight timeframe.

The two bills are the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1 trillion bipartisan plan that has passed in the Senate and is now before the House, and a $3.5 trillion spending proposal that reflects the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Plan.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $550 billion in new spending for public transit, passenger rail, bridges, water and sewer systems, high-speed internet, electric vehicle infrastructure, and investments in the electric grid to support the expansion of renewable energy. If the law passes, municipalities can anticipate infrastructure support in the form of both direct grants to local governments as well as funds that will pass through existing state programs.

New programs that would provide direct funding to municipalities include $5 billion for a Safe Streets for All program and $5 billion for a competitive National Infrastructure Project Assistance program to allow communities to complete critical large projects that would otherwise be too expensive.

Two existing formula programs, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, would each receive $11.7 billion over five years (49% for principal forgiveness and grants, 51% for loans).

The White House has released a fact sheet about what the bill would mean for Massachusetts.

The president’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better spending package includes investments in child care, higher education, housing, workforce development, green energy jobs, the teaching workforce, and school building infrastructure.

Congressional leaders are looking to pass the larger spending bill using the budget reconciliation process, which provides for expedited consideration of high-priority fiscal legislation. Under reconciliation, amendments are limited in scope, and the bill is not subject to filibuster in the Senate.

Democrats do not need Republican support in order to pass the reconciliation bill, but they will need support from every Democratic senator and all but a handful of Democratic House members. This is a tall order, as centrist Democrats object to the price tag, and progressive Democrats object to removing any of the proposed investments. The progressive caucus has stated that its members will not vote for the Investment and Infrastructure Jobs Act without first passing the Build Back Better plan. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced this week that the two bills would not be considered simultaneously, as the larger package is not yet ready for a vote.

The House had been planning to vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Sept. 30, but the vote was postponed.

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