Congressional Committees Meet to Discuss Hurricane Ida Response
October 07, 2021
As Congress continues to negotiate passage of President Biden’s agenda, multiple committees met this week to discuss the administration’s response to Hurricane Ida, which caused nearly 100 deaths and resulted in billions of dollars in damage from Louisiana up into the northeast. On September 30, Congress passed a continuing resolution to extend government funded, but......
Myths And Facts: Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act
September 23, 2021
ASCE’s Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives team has been focused the past few months on working with ASCE members to press Congress to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), over $550 billion in new investments for physical infrastructure assets from roads to water systems to our electric grid and more. During our outreach......
House Passes Continuing Resolution To Keep Government Open Through Dec. 3
September 22, 2021
The House of Representatives on Sept. 21 passed a continuing resolution that does not include an extension for transportation programs, signaling Congressional leaders may be prepared to agree on a significant infrastructure bill before federal funding authority expires. House members are expected to consider the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by Sept. 27, just......
House Committees Move Forward with Reconciliation Legislation
September 16, 2021
This month, the House of Representatives began the process of writing their proposed $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package following passage of a budget resolution in August. Along with of the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the reconciliation package marks a critical step in President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda. Unlike the bipartisan......
South Carolina Civil Engineers Give the State’s Infrastructure a “D+” Grade
September 08, 2021
On Wednesday, September 8, the South Carolina Section of ASCE unveiled the 2021 Report Card for South Carolina’s Infrastructure, the first report card ever issues by the South Carolina Section. The report assigned the state’s systems a cumulative grade of “D+” which is below the national grade of “C-.” The report analyzed eight categories of......
Hurricane Ida Wreaks Havoc, but Louisiana’s Levees Hold Firm
September 02, 2021
Throughout New Orleans, Louisiana, residents are still beset with remnants of Hurricane Katrina 16 years after it made landfall, breaching New Orleans’ levees and ultimately devastating communities, leading to 1,800 deaths. On the 16th anniversary of the tragic storm, the very same region was besieged by Hurricane Ida, which reached winds of 150 miles per......
Senate Passes Historic Infrastructure Package
August 11, 2021
ASCE scored a significant legislative victory this week with the Senate passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The bipartisan bill passed by a vote of 69 – 30, with 19 Republicans joining Democrats. The legislation marks the largest U.S. infrastructure investment in generations; $550 billion in new spending over the......
Senate Expected to Pass Historic Infrastructure Bill Over the Weekend
August 06, 2021
The Senate is expected to pass legislation representing a historic investment in the nation’s infrastructure as early as Saturday. On Thursday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) moved to end debate on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a $1.2 trillion investment in our nation’s road and bridges, water systems, ports and inland......
Senate Nears Completion of Major Infrastructure Bill
August 03, 2021
In March, President Biden introduced the American Jobs Plan, a $2.3 trillion proposal geared to restore and upgrade the nation’s infrastructure. The introduction of the American Jobs Plan kicked off months of negotiations between the White House and key Senators from both sides of the aisle to develop an infrastructure package that could pass the......
Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Hits Speed Bump
July 22, 2021
On Wednesday, a Senate vote on the motion to proceed to the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework failed (49-51), as was expected. The procedural vote required 60 votes to open debate on the package, crafted by a group of 22 Senators for months. Luckily, the failed motion to proceed is more of speed bump than......
