With the election next week, Congress is starting to look to the lame duck session and the agenda for the 117th Congress.
No matter the results of the election, Congress has several items that need to be addressed this year, including passing a Water Resources Development Act and finalizing the next COVID-19 recovery package, which ASCE is strongly urging includes relief for state Departments of Transportation and transit agencies.
Looking beyond the lame duck session, the results of the election could have large implications for the nation’s infrastructure with both President Trump and Vice President Biden detailing different visions. Vice President Biden has announced both a $2 trillion infrastructure and clean energy package, as well as a $1.3 trillion infrastructure plan as part of his Build Back Better campaign. Some Capitol Hill sources expect that if Vice President Biden should win the election, that his Administration would try to bring a comprehensive infrastructure plan before Congress by February.
Meanwhile, President Trump remains focused on infrastructure, through the lens of speeding along the permitting process. Earlier this year, his Administration announced its final NEPA rule, while in 2018 he proposed a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan. Additionally, earlier this month, President Trump signed an Executive Order on modernizing the nation’s water resource management and water Infrastructure to ensure federal coordination on water policy becomes standard practice.
ASCE looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the next Administration to advance and improve our nation’s infrastructure.