Trump's infrastructure plan won't contain list of projects
By Melanie Zanona - 05/17/17 01:23 PM EDT President Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure package won’t contain a list of specific projects, according to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
Speculation has been growing about which projects would or wouldn’t make the final cut in the yet-to-be unveiled rebuilding plan. A list of 50 transportation projects was circulated in Washington earlier this year that allegedly identified some of the top projects that were under consideration.
But Chao emphasized that Trump’s proposal will still contain special funding mechanisms to help rural and other infrastructure needs directly access cash, especially in areas where private financing isn’t a viable option.
“We will not specify any list of projects or anything like that. … There will not be a specific list of projects,” Chao told the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee on Wednesday. “The infrastructure proposal is being put together with a much greater view of principles.”
Chao testified on Capitol Hill for the first time since her confirmation hearing to provide updates on Trump’s highly anticipated infrastructure plan.
She told senators that the administration will unveil a broad sketch of the proposal in late May, which will highlight the administration’s top “principles” when it comes to rebuilding U.S. roads, bridges and other public works.
“The president, obviously, is very impatient,” Chao said.
A more detailed legislative package will likely be released in the “third quarter,” she added, which would put it up against must-pass aviation, debt ceiling and spending bills.
Chao reiterated that “everything is on the table” when it comes to funding offsets for the plan, but did not offer further details about which options are being seriously considered by the White House.
Lawmakers will need to come up with $200 billion in offsets for the bill, which will be used to leverage about $1 trillion worth of overall investment through public-private partnerships, according to the administration.
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http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/333856-trumps-infrastructure-plan-wont-contain-list-of-projects
