Trump's Actual Infrastructure Plan to Be Unveiled Before Autumn, Secretary Chao Says
WASHINGTON — Legislation that would reflect President Donald Trump’s vision for repairing and modernizing the country’s transportation network will likely be unveiled sometime between July and September, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said June 7.
“We hope to have the legislative language, depending on the congressional schedule, probably third quarter of this year,” Chao told the Senate Commerce Committee. Trump promoted his infrastructure initiative in Cincinnati, Ohio, a few hours later.
The administration’s measure would propose $200 billion in funding as a way to incentivize $800 billion in private-sector investments. Public-private partnerships, via tolls, and streamlining the permitting process for construction projects would be centerpieces of the administration’s plan, Chao explained.
Trump, who started the week with calls for privatizing the air traffic control system, emphasized a need for facilitating the approval of large-scale projects. “We're getting rid of the regulations,” the president said. His speech was webcast by C-SPAN.
The administration’s infrastructure plan unveiled in May proposed “putting infrastructure permitting into the hands of responsible state and local officials where appropriate.”
At the Commerce Committee hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) expressed concern over the White House’s proposal to privatize an aspect of the country’s aviation system, reducing funding for passenger rail services and eliminating Obama-era grants for regional infrastructure projects. Key Democrats on Capitol Hill also say they are skeptical reforms to the permitting process for construction projects would pave the way for a plethora of new projects nationwide.
