Senate Passes Massive Technology Bill
June 10, 2021
On June 8th, the Senate passed on a 68-32 vote, the United States Innovation and Competition Act, a comprehensive piece of legislation to expand funding for science and innovation and to combat China on economic, scientific, and diplomatic fronts. The bill, containing more than 1,400 pages, authorizes $250 billion for basic and advanced technology research, as well......
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Passes Surface Transportation Reauthorization
June 10, 2021
This week the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. After a marathon markup that lasted until 5 am on Thursday, T&I passed the final version of the INVEST in America Act. Vote was largely partisan (38-26) with......
Biden Releases Full Budget Request
June 03, 2021
The full details of the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget were released on Friday, May 28 and include the full scope of the Biden Administration’s “American Jobs Plan.” The $6 trillion federal spending plan for FY22 seeks to invest heavily in several government agencies to boost infrastructure and education, expand affordable housing, bolster public......
White House Doubles Funding for BRIC
May 26, 2021
The Biden administration has announced that it will double federal funding to encourage communities to better prepare for hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. Specifically, the President has authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to double to $1 billion for FY 2021 the funding available for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC......
Senate EPW Introduces Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill
May 25, 2021
Over the weekend Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Ranking Member Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (STRA) of 2021. This legislation takes the first step in reauthorizing highway and bridge......
ASCE a Leading Voice for Infrastructure Dialogue Nationwide
May 20, 2021
Infrastructure has been all the rage these days, as President Biden and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been calling for generational investment in the nation’s built environment as a means of revitalizing the economy and getting Americans back to work. Massive investments have been proposed, including President Biden’s $2.2 trillion......
House T&I Republicans Introduce the STARTER Act 2.0
May 19, 2021
On Wednesday, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO6), and other Republican Committee leaders, introduced the Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, & Efficient Review (STARTER) Act 2.0. This is the latest and most detailed surface transportation reauthorization released by either party in either chamber this Congress. The legislation maintains Republican surface......
United for Infrastructure 2021: A Week of Broad Agreement & Urgency
May 13, 2021
United for Infrastructure 2021 is drawing to a close. The week was full of in-depth panels, remarks, and interviews on the importance of infrastructure systems to the economic vitality of all communities. A focus on infrastructure from diverse stakeholders was especially timely as President Joe Biden continues to advocate for his American Jobs Plan that......
Treasury Provides Guidance on State and Local COVID-19 Aid
May 12, 2021
On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) launched the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) program. The program was first authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). CSLFRF provides $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to help turn the tide on the pandemic,......
The Endless Frontier Act – A Dramatic Boost for Research and Development
April 22, 2021
On Wednesday, April 21, the U.S. Senate introduced a bipartisan bill — the Endless Frontier Act — that would increase American investments in science and technology innovation with the goal of strengthening the economy and competing worldwide. The effort is led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN), and would,......