House Approves $715B Transportation and Water Bill
A $715 billion transportation and water infrastructure bill was approved by the House Thursday with a vote of 221 to 201, according to CBS. The bill, which is known as the INVEST in America Act, focuses on improving and repairing roads, bridges, transit rail and ensure clean drinking water.
“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,” said Democratic Rep. Peter DeFaio of Oregon prior to the House vote on Thursday. DeFazio is also the lead sponsor of the act and chair of the House of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Last week, President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators last week came to an agreement on a deal, which DeFazio claimed had “no policy attached.”
According to a fact sheet that was released, the INVEST in America Act would allocate $343 billion to roads, bridges and safety measures, $117 billion for drinking water infrastructure, $109 billion to transit, $95 billion for passenger and freight rail and $51 billion for wastewater infrastructure.
October 1 has been set by DeFazio as a deadline for Senate action.
