Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes the Senate

After months of negotiations, the Senate has approved a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal by a 69-30 vote (including support from 19 Republican Senators).  The legislative package includes nearly $550 billion in new spending and could mean new jobs over the next decade through federal investments in roads and bridges, broadband internet, public transit and electric utilities.  The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Senate infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, would authorize new federal spending over five years.  According to the White House, projects funded by the bill would add "around 2 million jobs per year over the next decade."  The infrastructure areas that would receive funding are summarized below.

Lawmakers set aside the largest share of the money, $110 billion, for roads and bridges.  The infrastructure bill also includes roughly:

• $73 billion for electric grid and power infrastructure
• $66 billion for passenger and freight rail
• $65 billion for broadband investments
• $55 billion for water systems and infrastructure
• $50 billion for Western water storage
• $39 billion for public transit
• $25 billion for airports
• $21 billion for environmental remediation projects
• $17 billion for ports and waterways
• $15 billion for electric vehicles
• $11 billion for road safety

Senate Bill Does NOT Include PFAS and Metal Finishing Requirements

Unlike the House infrastructure bill that passed last month, this infrastructure bill does not include the several specific provisions to accelerate the regulation of PFAS compounds.  The bill does, however, include the reinstatement of the Superfund tax on chemicals (to help pay for the infrastructure projects) that would most likely raise the prices of chemicals and many consumer products.

It is not clear how soon the House of Representatives could take up the bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that the House will be back into session the week of August 23rd.

New $3.5 Trillion Package in House

Democrats in both the Senate and the House would also like to add a separate but complementary $3.5 trillion spending plan that would advance "human infrastructure," like money for education, health care, child care, climate initiatives and housing. This broader investment package could move forward through so-called “budget reconciliation,” a legislative tool that would allow Democrats to approve the plan without a Republican vote. Moderate Democrats and Republicans have voice opposition to this larger spending bill, at least until the bipartisan infrastructure bill is considered for approval.

Spending Plan Priorities

The four key areas of focus in the upcoming spending plan include the following. 

• Families and education -- Fund universal preschool, with a new child care benefit for families; make community college tuition-free for two years; extend this year's tax child tax credit and earned income tax credit beyond 2021; and create a federal paid family and medical leave program.
• Climate -- Work to meet the administration's goal for the US to get 80% of its power from emissions-free sources by 2030 by funding a collection of clean-energy initiatives, including rebates for individuals and families for home electrification and weatherization.
• Infrastructure -- Fund public housing, green and sustainable housing; rehabilitate aging Veterans Administration buildings and hospitals; and provide workforce development and job training programs.
• Health care -- Expand federal health care benefits by adding dental, vision and hearing benefits to the Medicare program; fund in-home and community-based services to help seniors, persons with disabilities and home care workers; and work to reduce prescription drug costs.

While substantial progress has been made on the smaller yet historic infrastructure bill, significant work must be done to get this passed in Congress to become law.  Efforts on the larger, $3.5 trillion spending bill to be addressed through the budget reconciliation process has the potential to derail the Senate’s bipartisan measure. The White House and Congressional leaders in both parties will be working to resolve differences in order to pass legislation before the end of the year.

This update is courtesy of the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF). For more information or to become a member, visit nasf.org.