Infrastructure Negotiations Continue; Senators Seek Details on Bill
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Negotiations for a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure package in the U.S. Senate remain tenuous as strong Republican opposition challenges a plan by Democratic leaders to schedule a key floor vote in the waning days of July.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has indicated his intention to try again for consideration of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure policy measure before the August congressional recess. Schumer’s timeline would give senators about a week to advance an infrastructure package meant to modernize nearly every mode of transportation.
The Democrat leaders’ infrastructure package is backed by a dozen Republican senators, as well as the White House. Sponsors of the policy framework said its legislative text would be unveiled within days, which could include proposals aimed at boosting funding for freight safety programs.
Infrastructure Letter by Transport Topics
On July 21, Schumer’s attempt to pave the way for consideration of his infrastructure package failed to meet a requisite number of votes. Senior Democrats who supported Schumer’s procedural vote are asking for details about the infrastructure package.
“More must be done to guarantee my support for the legislation currently being drafted. The bill we pass now will have consequences for our nation for years to come,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the committee on highways. “I cannot endorse this proposal until I review the full legislative text and ensure that it is driven by policy expertise and designed to meet the needs of the American people.”
Republicans in the Senate unified to oppose Schumer’s procedural vote. While noting that talks continue, GOP leadership cited the lack of legislative text, as well as the overall multitrillion-dollar funding proposals under consideration.
“They’re talking about big projects and big sums of money. They’re still talking, still working, still negotiating in good faith across the aisle,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “No bipartisan agreement, no text, nothing for the Congressional Budget Office to evaluate, and certainly nothing on which to vote.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell heads toward his office. (Tom Brenner/Bloomberg)
The key negotiators on the infrastructure package have suggested that provisions approved by the Senate Commerce Committee would be included in their final draft of the bill. In June, the committee approved a five-year, $78 billion legislation updating freight, trucking and rail safety programs. As part of that bill, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would receive $4.6 billion for commercial vehicle programs associated with safety, and law enforcement training. Freight infrastructure grants would receive an average of $1.2 billion annually, and the bill would establish a new program meant for transportation projects of national significance. The Commerce Committee bill also would establish an apprenticeship program designed to pave the way for commercial driver license holders under 21 to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.
Separately from the infrastructure policy negotiations, Senate Democrats announced the potential for commencing debate on a $3.5 trillion budget proposal focusing on climate change, federal social programs and tax policy.
The White House continues to endorse the Senate’s legislative approach to President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. As press secretary Jen Psaki put it recently, “We support Sen. Schumer’s efforts to move forward on the bipartisan infrastructure framework and very much appreciate the hard work until late in the night.”
Added Psaki, “Progress is continuing to be made thanks to all of the hard work, and we back Sen. Schumer’s effort to get this to the floor as quickly as possible.”
On the House side, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the transportation panel, called on Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to assure their caucus key aspects of a House-passed multiyear highway policy bill would be included in the final version of Congress’ infrastructure measure. The House recently approved the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act, that would update a 2015 highway policy law that expires at the end of September. The House bill would promote severe-weather infrastructure resilience programs and technology research and development.
“We should reject any effort to categorically exclude the thorough, transparent and transformational process undertaken by the House,” wrote DeFazio in a letter co-signed by the chairpersons of the House transportation subcommittees. “We must seize this opportunity to reform and rebuild our transportation system to meet the challenges of today and reject efforts to sacrifice this urgently needed work simply to expedite the passage of a status quo bill.”
Meanwhile, infrastructure funding proponents keep demanding that Congress advance comprehensive legislation that would ameliorate freight connectivity concerns. National Association of Manufacturers president and CEO Jay Timmons expressed a sense of urgency: “Bold, historic infrastructure investment will improve all of our lives, but it is especially critical to the future of manufacturing in America and to the livelihoods of America’s manufacturing workers.”
“Making these investments in a bipartisan way will also help restore faith in our institutions,” said Timmons. “Of course, such historic achievements are never easy, so lawmakers should keep talking and continue their work.”
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