Sen. Sanders Introduces $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill

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Pete Marovich/Bloomberg News

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, is proposing legislation that would authorize $1 trillion in spending over the next five years to fund transportation projects around the country.

His “Rebuild America Act” would add $75 billion annually into the federal Highway Trust Fund account, establish an infrastructure bank and expand financing programs for stakeholders, according to his office.

The measure, which lacks broad support from Republicans who control both chambers, also would authorize $15 billion annually to improve freight and passenger rail corridors.

“For many years, we have underfunded the maintenance of our nation’s physical infrastructure. That has to change. It is time to rebuild America. A $1 trillion investment to modernize our country’s physical infrastructure would not just rebuild our country but create and maintain 13 million good-paying jobs that our economy desperately needs,” Sanders wrote in an editorial published Jan. 26 in The Hill newspaper.