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 days before the Sept. 30 funding deadline. ASCE has applauded the IIJA, which outlines $550 billion in spending for roads, bridges, rail, airports, water systems, transit, and schools.
The stopgap measure approved Sept. 21, which includes $28.6 billion in disaster relief funds, would keep federal agencies financially afloat through Dec. 3.
Highlights from the continuing resolution include:
Roads and Bridges
- $2.6 billion to the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which reimburses states and territories for repairing roads and bridges on the National Highway System that have been damaged by natural disasters.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- $3 billion to accelerate the construction of flood and storm damage reduction projects to minimize risk from future floods and hurricanes. Within this figure, $1.5 billion is for states that have declared a major disaster due to Hurricane Ida.
- $2.081 billion to repair damages to Corps projects impacted by natural disasters. Specifically, these funds are split up into $368 million for Mississippi rivers and tributaries, $887 million for operations and maintenance, and $826 million for flood control and coastal emergencies.
Aviation
- $100 million to the Federal Aviation Administration to replace agency-owned buildings and equipment that were damaged by Hurricane Ida. These funds are meant to help restore full air traffic navigation and surveillance capabilities.
Science and Commerce
- $22 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to investigate building collapses in an effort to reduce the risk of similar building failures in the future.
- $25 million for the National Science Foundation to help with unexpected disaster-related costs associated with research vessel construction.
Natural Resources
- $275 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which is designed to help communities address damages to infrastructure that have been caused by natural disasters that impair watersheds.
ASCE supports the sustainable and resilient reconstruction of areas that have been devastated by natural disasters.
The stopgap measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.