House moderates unveil $1.25T infrastructure plan
By Scott Wong and Mike Lillis - 06/09/21 03:26 PM EDT
A bipartisan group of House moderates on Wednesday unveiled an eight-year, $1.25 trillion infrastructure plan designed to help break the months-long impasse over President Biden’s top domestic legislative priority.
The framework offered by the 58-member Problem Solvers Caucus calls for more than $959 billion for traditional infrastructure, including highways, bridges, rail, airports and waterways; $25 billion of that money would be set aside for electric vehicle infrastructure, including electric buses.
The plan also calls for $74 billion for drinking water and wastewater systems; $71 billion for the electric grid and clean-energy programs; $45 billion for broadband; and $10 billion for veterans’ housing.
In the coming days, the group — comprised of 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans — will offer proposals for how to pay for the package but it is not backing tax increases that Biden and progressives want, sources said. About $762 billion of the package represents new spending.
"It's critically important that we get a robust infrastructure package signed into law, and that we do it with strong bipartisan support,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, said in a statement. “This is the model for how we should govern in Washington: Democrats and Republicans working together to find common ground.”
“The time is now for Congress and the Administration to reach across the aisle, unite, and boost investments in our surface transportation network that will move our transportation systems into the 21st century,” added Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the other co-chair. “Infrastructure investment can and will deliver real benefits to every American and additionally, has the unique power to unite us as a nation.”
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/557621-house-moderates-unveil-125t-infrastructure-plan
