Late Friday night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, called a “once-in-a-generation investment” into the country’s infrastructure by President Joe Biden’s administration.
The bill passed by a vote of 228-to-206, with 19 members, including six Democrats, voting against their party, fulfilling Biden’s promise to get bipartisan support for the bill.
“This Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will rebuild America’s roads and bridges, deliver clean drinking water to every household… will rebuild America’s roads, bridges, and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind,” the White House said in a statement. “The legislation will help ease inflationary pressures and strengthen supply chains by making long-overdue improvements for our nation’s ports, airports, rail, and roads. It will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come. Combined with the President’s Build Back Framework, it will add on average 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years.”
The bill adds $559 billion to the federal government’s average annual infrastructure investment of $650 billion and addresses surface transportation reauthorization, water resiliency, emergency management, and other infrastructure priorities. Included in the bill are a $273.2 billion increase in the federal highway programs over the next five years; $11 billion for road safety; $7.3 billion for the new Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program design to make infrastructure more resilient to climate change; $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure; $66 billion for passenger and freight rail; $65 billion for broadband infrastructure; $39.2 billion for public transit; and $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, among other things.
Passage of the bill was quickly met with widespread approval.
“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the most significant measure in more than 50 years to meaningfully address the condition and performance of the U.S. transportation network,” said American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) President & CEO Dave Bauer in a statement. “Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have demonstrated not only the importance of federal transportation infrastructure leadership but that policymakers can find common ground and govern on matters of national concern… In today’s political environment where distortions and broadsides masquerade as solutions, members of Congress have taken tangible action that will benefit every state and community across the nation.”
Within minutes of the bill’s passage, the American Public Works Association (APWA) said it applauded the move and commended Congress for taking historic steps toward improving American’s quality of life.
“Congress’ long-awaited approval of IIJA today is welcomed and applauded across the country by public works professionals,” said APWA President Stan Brown. “From 2003 to 2017, federal infrastructure spending dropped more than 20 percent and negatively affected those who rely on our highways, roads, bridges, transit, and water and wastewater systems.”
Amtrak, which is slated to receive $66 billion in new money, allowing the rail line to build onto its existing service along the Northeast Corridor as well as in Colorado and the Midwest, said the bill would allow it to bring rail service to more Americans.
“Passenger rail offers the transportation solutions this country needs, and Amtrak is ready to make it happen,” Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said in a statement. “This bill will allow Amtrak to advance significant infrastructure and major station projects on the NEC, purchase new passenger rail equipment, and develop new rail corridors, bringing passenger rail to more people across the nation. As demonstrated by their commitment to rail in this bill, President Biden and Congress believe in the future of rail and Amtrak, and we will move quickly to advance these projects.”
Airline industry advocacy groups also heralded the bill’s passage, which includes $25 billion for airport maintenance and improvements.
“As millions of Americans prepare to ‘pack their patience’ and gear-up for Holiday travel, they can add in a large helping of gratitude as Congress has FINALLY passed a long-overdue and very much needed infrastructure bill, ensuring billions of dollars of airport projects can move forward without undue delay,” American Association of Airport Executives President and CEO Todd Hauptli said in a statement. “These projects will benefit travelers, workers, and communities across the country. Nothing is easy in Washington these days, but concrete knows no political affiliation. This is a win for all Americans.”