Biden’s Infrastructure Plan in US House by May, Pelosi Says
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
President Joe Biden’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure proposal that aims to ameliorate mobility networks and boost job opportunities nationwide is likely to reach the U.S. House of Representatives in May, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters April 1.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) said her leadership team will “look forward to writing a bill, maybe much of it in the first week of May for the infrastructure piece of it.”
The speaker tapped Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to kick off consideration of key aspects of the plan.
“Our hopes are riding on you,” Pelosi said, referring to DeFazio.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (Erin Scott/Bloomberg News)
The senior transportation policymaker has suggested calling up a surface transportation policy bill before the committee this spring.
The speaker and other top Democrats on Capitol Hill have strongly endorsed Biden’s vision for rebuilding roads and bridges. Specifically, the aim is to respond to growing concerns from climate change and promote employment opportunities.
“It’s about the jobs in building the infrastructure. It’s about the jobs that are created by promoting commerce, good-paying jobs. But, we need people to be ready for them. And that’s what this package that the president put forth does,” Pelosi observed. “It makes bold investments in broadband, investing in long-neglected areas of infrastructure.”
Senate Democratic leaders have yet to announce when they intend to consider Biden’s proposals for investing $115 billion for highways, roads and bridges, $85 billion for transit, $80 billion for Amtrak, $25 billion for airports and $17 billion for inland ports.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:
