Despite President Biden’s approval of a bipartisan infrastructure plan, the House of Representatives passed HR 3684 known as the Invest in America Act, and sponsored by Representative Peter DeFazio(D) of Oregon, yesterday along party lines with a vote of 221 to 201. (See https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684) 

The Act dedicates $715 billion to the following general categories over five years:

• $343 billion for roads, bridges and safety
• $109 billion for public transit
• $95 billion for passenger and freight railways
• $117 billion to improving drinking water
• $51 billion to wastewater infrastructure

Although several industry groups applauded the move, the bill faces Republican opposition in the Senate. The White House also backtracked from a prior line in the sand that it would not sign an infrastructure bill unless accompanied by Biden’s American Jobs Plan. The Senate next reviews HR 3684 in committee, including the Senate Budget Committee chaired by Vermont Democrat Bernie Sanders.