Legislative Update: Passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
By Kerry O'Hare, WTS-DC
November 2021
On November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives gave its approval to the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was previously approved by the U.S. Senate in August and was signed into law by President Biden on November 15. The historic investments in the IIJA include the five-year authorization of surface transportation programs and $550 billion in new spending on everything from roads, bridges, transit, passenger rail, seaports, airports, water systems, broadband, and a build-out of a nationwide electric vehicle charging infrastructure network. Unlike the 2009 stimulus bill where the intent was to focus dollars to shovel-ready projects, the IIJA is focused on long-term investments and will improve mobility and boost the nation’s economic competitiveness. Every community across the country will reap the benefits of these investments and thousands of jobs will be created. Now that the legislation has finally been approved the focus will turn to implementation.
Meanwhile, work continues on the FY22 reconciliation bill that represents the other component of the President’s Build Back Better agenda. On November 19, the House passed a $1.75 trillion bill that is mostly focused on addressing climate change ($555 billion) and social programs. There is also $10 billion in funding for high-speed rail and a new $10 billion affordable housing and transit program. The Build Back Better package will now head to the Senate which is expected to make more modifications to the package and send it back to the House for another vote.
Progress continues to be made in advancing the President’s nominees to senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Transportation. In June, the department welcomed newly confirmed Under Secretary for Transportation Policy Carlos Monje, Jr. The Under Secretary is the third highest-ranking confirmed position. The nominations of Amit Bose to be the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Commission, Meera Joshi to be the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Moshin Syed to be the Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs were approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in October and now await full Senate consideration.
In September, U.S. DOT published a few significant Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) including a $409.59 million NOFO for the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Buses and Bus Facilities Program; a $362 million NOFO for the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program; and a $2.2 billion NOFO in competitive grants for transit systems demonstrating additional pandemic-associated needs (this tranche of funding is from the American Rescue Plan).
On November 8, the U.S. reopened borders for vaccinated foreign travelers from 33 countries that had been subject to Presidential Executive Orders restricting travel for the past 18 months (including China, Brazil, India, Iran, the European Union, and the United Kingdom). Various regulations have been put in place for both U.S. and foreign travelers flying to the states including testing and vaccination requirements. More information can be found here for US citizens/nationals and non-citizens.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it extended the face mask requirement across all transportation networks through January 18, 2022.
Finally, U.S.DOT held two virtual public meetings earlier in November on the Justice40 Initiative that calls on federal agencies such as the FTA, to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The intent of the public meetings was to solicit feedback from participants on the Justice40 Initiative.