Senate Poised for Infrastructure Vote This Week

The Senate is expected to vote this week on $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill after weeks of negotiations. The 2,702-page bill text was submitted to the full Senate late August 1 after Democratic and Republican senators who negotiated the plan spent the weekend finalizing legislative text.
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The Senate is expected to vote this week on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill after weeks of negotiations. The 2,702-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was submitted to the full Senate late August 1 after Democratic and Republican senators who negotiated the plan spent the weekend finalizing legislative text. The bill adds $550 billion in new spending over five years on top of current FAST Act funding levels and incorporates the $303.5 billion Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 passed unanimously by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in May with the Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021 passed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in June.

NATSO continues to review the massive infrastructure bill and will continue to report in coming days on its implications for NATSO members.

In general, the bill includes about $110 billion in new spending for roads and bridges, $73 billion for power grid upgrades, $66 billion for rail and Amtrak, and $65 billion for broadband expansion. It also would provide $39 billion for transit. The measure includes $7.5 for investments in electric vehicle charging.

Republicans are calling for an open amendment process, which could lead to dozens of votes over several days. However, the legislation is expected to pass without major changes.

After the Senate vote later this week, the bill still faces a lengthy path to enactment. It then must be approved by the House, which according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not take up the legislation unless and until the Senate passes a separate, $3.5 trillion "reconciliation" proposal. 

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