Law Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Signed into law 11/15/21

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Final Updated Post 11/15/21
Biden signs bipartisan infrastructure bill into law
CNN

President Biden just signed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package into law in a rare bipartisan event attended by members of Congress, governors and mayors at the White House South Lawn.
"Most of all it does something truly historic," Biden said before signing the law. "I ran for President believing it was time to rebuild the backbone of this nation which I characterize as working people in the middle class. They are the ones who built the country. And to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and the middle out, this law delivers on that long overdue promise in my view. It creates better jobs for millions of Americans."
What the bill will do: Once signed, it will deliver $550 billion of new federal investments in America's infrastructure over five years, including money for roads, bridges, mass transit, rail, airports, ports and waterways.
The package includes a $65 billion investment in improving the nation's broadband infrastructure and invests tens of billions of dollars in improving the electric grid and water systems. Another $7.5 billion would go to building a nationwide network of plug-in electric vehicle chargers, according to the bill text.



Updated Post 11/6/21
House passes bill 226-208. Will be going to Biden for signing.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/co...cture-bill-sends-legislation-biden-s-n1280527
13 Republican Yes votes:
Don Bacon of (NE)
Brian Fitzpatrick (PA)
Andrew Gabarino (NY)
Anthony Gonzalez (OH)
John Katko (NY)
Adam Kinzinger (IL)
Nicole Malliotakis (NY)
David McKinley (WV)
Tom Reed (NY)
Chris Smith (NJ)
Fred Upton (MI)
Jeff Van Drew (NJ)
Don Young (AL)

As someone mentioned above, most of the Republican congress yes

6 Democrat No votes:
Jamaal Bowman (NY)
Cori Bush (MO)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY)
Ilhan Omar (MN)
Ayanna Pressley (MA)
Rashida Tlaib (MI)

AOC and I assume the other progressive caucus members stuck to no because they wanted BBB passed alongside it




Updated Post 9/17/21
A possible sign that the bipartisan infrastructure bill and budget reconciliation bill aren't going to be an all or nothing proposal. The infrastructure bill that already passed the Senate will get a vote in the House by the end of the month. Biden has already mentioned he will vote for either bill that gets to his desk but is confident he will get both. Pelosi initially was pushing that this bill wouldn't be going through unless the Senate passed the 3.5T budget reconciliation but that appears it will take longer than to Sept 27th to reach the House with the current disagreements between the 50 democratic senators.


Hoyer affirms House will vote Sept. 27 on bipartisan infrastructure bill
The Hill

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Friday affirmed the chamber will vote on the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill on Sept. 27, signaling Democratic leaders are still plowing full speed ahead on their planned timeline even though the larger $3.5 trillion bill to invest in social safety net programs still faces tough hurdles.

In a letter to lawmakers previewing this month's legislative session, Hoyer said the House will vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill the last week of September "pursuant to the rule passed in August."

Under that agreement between Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a small group of moderates, the House is scheduled to vote Sept. 27 on the bipartisan infrastructure bill even though progressives have long warned they won't support it if the larger, Democratic-only social spending package isn't completed yet.


Updated Post 8/10/21
Senate Passes $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill
New York Times

The Senate gave overwhelming bipartisan approval on Tuesday to a $1 trillion infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation’s deteriorating roads and bridges and fund new climate resilience and broadband initiatives, delivering a key component of President Biden’s agenda.

The vote, 69 to 30, was uncommonly bipartisan. The yes votes included Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, and 18 others from his party who shrugged off increasingly shrill efforts by former President Donald J. Trump to derail it.

“This historic investment in infrastructure is what I believe you, the American people, want, what you’ve been asking for for a long, long time,” Mr. Biden said from the White House as he thanked Republicans for showing “a lot of courage.”

Mr. McConnell, who publicly declared that his priority was stopping the Biden agenda, said in a statement that “I was proud to support today’s historic bipartisan infrastructure deal and prove that both sides of the political aisle can still come together around common-sense solutions.”


Updated Post 7/3/21
House passes $715 billion transportation and water infrastructure bill
CNN

The House of Representatives voted on Thursday to approve a $715 billion transportation and water infrastructure bill focused on improving and repairing roads, bridges, transit and rail, and ensuring clean drinking water.

The vote was 221-201 with two Republicans voting with Democrats in favor.
House Democrats say the bill -- known as the INVEST in America Act -- will deliver on key priorities in President Joe Biden's American Jobs Plan, and they hope the legislative text can be used to negotiate with the Senate and the White House to determine what specific policy proposals can be included as part of the recently announced bipartisan infrastructure framework.
Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, the lead sponsor of the INVEST Act and chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said at a news conference on Wednesday, "I'm suggesting that substantial amounts of the policy in our bill should be negotiated by the White House, and the Senate and the House to be part of that bipartisan proposal."

Seems like this might be the bill that is used between the House and Senate if the bipartisan Senate infrastructure bill passes. Since the Senate hasn't even released a bill, the House has somewhat set the stage for negotiations between the two chambers. What's interesting is if this is the only bill needed to get something to Biden's desk, it might mean Pelosi might be okay with it not being tied to the reconciliation bill. Seeing different reports about whether it's a completely different bill or possible to match up to the Senate bill. Haven't seen the main differences between each. My guess would more green energy initiatives and more spending are in this one but again, the Senate hasn't actually released their bill yet dispite all the news and discussions about it. The House bill vote nearly fell along party lines, with only two republican votes. This bill also brought a return of earmarks.


Update Post 6/23/21
Senators say deal reached on infrastructure proposal as bipartisan agenda faces make-or-break moment
CNN

Senators on both sides of the aisle said Wednesday evening there's an agreement with White House officials and 10 senators on a bipartisan infrastructure deal, with senators planning to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday to discuss it.

GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said it's fully paid for and offsets the new spending. The total cost is $1.2 trillion over eight years, with $579 billion in new spending.

"Everyone in that room agreed on the framework," Manchin said, telling CNN he expects the details will be released Thursday.


Update Post 6/18/2021
Democrats Float $6 Trillion Plan Amid Talks on Narrower Infrastructure Deal
New York Times
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Senate Democrats have begun privately weighing a sprawling economic package that could be as large as $6 trillion even as a bipartisan group of senators works to draw support for a much narrower infrastructure plan that would devote $579 billion in new money to fund physical public works projects.


The details of both plans remain in flux, as lawmakers work to maneuver some, if not all, of President Biden’s economic agenda around the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate and past razor-thin margins in the House. For now, the divergent efforts are proceeding in parallel, with centrist senators in both parties pushing forward on their compromise proposal and Democrats preparing to use the fast-track budget process known as reconciliation to avoid a Republican filibuster of their far larger plan.

“The truth is both tracks are moving forward very well, and both tracks need each other,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader. “We want to work with our Republican colleagues on infrastructure where we have common ground, and Democrats believe we have other priorities that the Senate must consider above and beyond a bipartisan infrastructure bill.”

Schumer mentioned the bipartisan bill around 1T likely would be voted on in July

Schumer hopes for July vote for bipartisan infrastructure bill
Reuters
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday he hoped to have a July vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill, but a second measure would be needed to incorporate climate and human infrastructure measures.

The top Senate Democrat told reporters there are many in his caucus who think the bipartisan proposal is a good start but does not do enough.

Democrats and Republicans in the 50-50 split Senate have been negotiating behind the scenes on a potential $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, with slightly more than half of that plan consisting of new funding. The rest would come from already approved money for COVID-19 relief and other programs.

But President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats in Congress want a much larger effort that not only invests in traditional infrastructure such as road and bridge-building, but in significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping the elderly and others receive home healthcare.


"In order to move forward on infrastructure, we must include bold action on climate," Schumer told reporters.

Original Post 6/11/2021
Looks like there might be some headway on the infrastructure bill

Bipartisan group of U.S. senators says it has a deal on infrastructure framework
Reuter’s
A bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators said on Thursday it had reached agreement on a framework for a proposed infrastructure spending bill that would not include any tax increases.

The group of five Republicans and five Democrats gave no details, but a source familiar with the deal said it would cost $974 billion over five years and $1.2 trillion over eight years, and includes $579 billion in new spending.

No tax hikes and they closed the gap between their initial proposals (Dems 2.2T; GOP 550B). Could still fall through but this is the first time I’ve seen news about an agreement. Looks like it’s a group of five from each side which means it could still be shot down with a filibuster if others don’t join in.

Background before articles above:
-Biden initially proposed an infrastructure bill totaling 2.2T, where about half of it expanded beyond what most would define as infrastructure, ranging from elderly care to
education.
-Republicans offered a counter bill around 600B which was seen as a no starter for Biden/ Senate Dems

Bill Info:
H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
 
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Gee, and how much of that money will actually be used for real infrastructure work like roads, bridges, dams, etc.
Probably a lot, since the Republicans are on board, but probably doesn’t go far enough either since they insist on no tax increase.

Although I don’t actually know what the appropriate amount to spend on infrastructure is. I would imagine renovating waterways, dams, and ports is expensive as shit.
 
Probably a lot, since the Republicans are on board, but probably doesn’t go far enough either since they insist on no tax increase.

Although I don’t actually know what the appropriate amount to spend on infrastructure is. I would imagine renovating waterways, dams, and ports is expensive as shit.
Should be ALL of it. But you know there will be plenty of bullshit pork in there. Politicians just can't seem to pass a clean spending bill of any kind.
 
It's really good pork. Investing in education and renewable energy.

The type of stuff that keeps us ahead of China
I wonder what “infrastructure” spending on education entails.

Throwing money at research universities is fine, but “upgrading buildings” vis a vis K-12 schools annoys me when we need three things: 1) pay teachers more 2) fire bad teachers 3) allow more flexibility in how teachers teach

Building more spacious classrooms in order to better observe social distancing doesn’t seem like an investment to me. Applying a coat of paint to the walls doesn’t improve education but it does inflate how much money is being spent.
 
Looks like there might be some headway on the infrastructure bill


Bipartisan group of U.S. senators says it has a deal on infrastructure framework
Reuter’s


No tax hikes and they closed the gap between their initial proposals (Dems 2.2T; GOP 550B). Could still fall through but this is the first time I’ve seen news about an agreement. Looks like it’s a group of five from each side which means it could still be shot down with a filibuster if others don’t join in.


That’s fuckin awesome.
 
Gee, and how much of that money will actually be used for real infrastructure work like roads, bridges, dams, etc.

Probably a lot, since the Republicans are on board, but probably doesn’t go far enough either since they insist on no tax increase.

Although I don’t actually know what the appropriate amount to spend on infrastructure is. I would imagine renovating waterways, dams, and ports is expensive as shit.

The 2.2T proposal was only about half infrastructure or at least what most people would generally consider it as. The rest were for other programs not related so the fact it got trimmed to that means most of that other stuff got gutted out. The other point that was causing a problem was whether the bill should be offset with taxes or other funds like from the relief bill should be used for it. It seems like this plan doesn’t have tax hikes. My main concern is how much value we get out of the 1T as the US doesn’t have a good history of coming in close to budget with infrastructure projects. I think that’s a problem that likely can’t be fixed in the short term but should really be looked in and fixed.

There also was another bill passed earlier this year to clean up the water supply that I believe was around 300B

Edit: it was 35B... way off there
 
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The 2.2T proposal was only about half infrastructure or at least what most people would generally consider it as. The rest were for other programs not related so the fact it got trimmed to that means most of that other stuff got gutted out. The other point that was causing a problem was whether the bill should be offset with taxes or other funds like from the relief bill should be used for it. It seems like this plan doesn’t have tax hikes. My main concern is how much value we get out of the 1T as the US doesn’t have a good history of coming in close to budget with infrastructure projects. I think that’s a problem that likely can’t be fixed in the short term but should really be looked in and fixed.

There also was another bill passed earlier this year to clean up the water supply that I believe was around 300B
Yeah that’s what I recalled re: other programs.

But since there are no details yet we can only speculate.
 
what some of you are calling pork will be seen even by republicans as necessary infrastructure in a decade or two, just how the military views climate change as the biggest threat to national security

our right wing political system is going to take quite a bit longer than the military to recognize the reality of our situation. An infrastructure bill that doesn't have climate change at its core is just another example of pride before the fall
 
I wonder what “infrastructure” spending on education entails.

Throwing money at research universities is fine, but “upgrading buildings” vis a vis K-12 schools annoys me when we need three things: 1) pay teachers more 2) fire bad teachers 3) allow more flexibility in how teachers teach

Building more spacious classrooms in order to better observe social distancing doesn’t seem like an investment to me. Applying a coat of paint to the walls doesn’t improve education but it does inflate how much money is being spent.

Most likely removal of the last bits of asbestos and lead remaning in the older buildings.

Shit, just two years ago my kid's elementary school took the entire summer to complete asbestos and lead remediation.
 
Most likely removal of the last bits of asbestos and lead remaning in the older buildings.

Shit, just two years ago my kid's elementary school took the entire summer to complete asbestos and lead remediation.
That was actually something that was mentioned (though I don’t think directly in reference to school buildings) which is a no-brainer, but I also remember reading about social distancing which just made me roll my eyes. How schools are not built with that in mind. (Shocker)
 
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