What happened: House Democratic leaders late Oct. 28 relinquished their push for a vote on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Despite an appeal from President Joe Biden earlier in the day to pass the measure before he departed on an overseas trip, a voting block of dozens of progressive Democrats continue to withhold their support for the infrastructure measure until a separate $1.75 trillion social spending package is also teed up for a House vote.
The progressives have conceded a previous demand that would have required the Senate to pass the $1.75 trillion plan, but are holding firm for House action. The details of the measure were released earlier in the day and the legislation is moving through the chamber’s approval process.
Why it matters: Nearly all House Republicans continue to oppose the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure package. As such, close to unanimous Democratic support in the almost evenly divided chamber is necessary to send the measure to President Biden for enactment.
What’s next: A short-term extension of the federal highway and public transportation programs was set to expire Oct. 31. The House and Senate approved an extension to Dec. 3 to keep surface transportation funds flowing.
ARTBA will continue to urge all House members to consider the infrastructure measure on its own merits and pass it as soon as possible to benefit their constituents.
