Airport Alert: House Democrats to Update Infrastructure Framework
April 1, 2020
With the ink barely dry on a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package that includes $10 billion for airports, House Democrats are already eyeing an economic recovery package that would include funding for infrastructure projects. Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and other House Democratic leaders held a press conference to discuss their work on a "phase 4" bill to respond to the pandemic.
"We must take bold action to renew America's infrastructure," Pelosi said today. Pelosi said that House Democrats will update their $760 billion, five-year "Moving Forward" infrastructure framework that was initially released in January to add funding for community health centers, education, housing and other priorities related to the spread of COVID-19.
As a reminder, the original infrastructure plan from House Democrats called for raising the federal cap on local Passenger Facility Charges to an unspecified amount and indexing it for inflation. The framework also proposed investing $30 billion in airport and airway infrastructure with an emphasis on funding for sustainability and noise projects. Pelosi said the infrastructure portion of the Democratic framework would remain in the updated version of the proposal.
Speaker Pelosi said House Democrats are negotiating with the administration and hope to have bipartisan support for their proposal. President Trump recently weighed in on the need for an infrastructure package to stimulate the economy. "With interest rates for the United States being at ZERO, this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill. It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4," Trump tweeted. In addition, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said today that he is talking with Congress about a potential infrastructure package and reiterated that it is important to the President.
Despite Trump's apparent enthusiasm for an infrastructure package, Republican Congressional leaders have so far been lukewarm to the idea, saying there is no immediate need for a fourth coronavirus-related legislative package and that lawmakers should wait to see how the CARES Act, which was signed into law last Friday, impacts the economy. The updated plan from House Democrats could also include divisive issues that would make bipartisan support difficult. For example, Pelosi said today that Democrats hope to include national vote-by-mail language, which had drawn significant opposition from some Republican leaders.
Pelosi said she hoped the House could consider the updated proposal soon after lawmakers reconvene in Washington. The House is scheduled to meet again on April 20, but that date could be pushed back due to travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders in numerous states.
As discussions about a potential "phase 4" recovery bill pick up steam in Washington, AAAE continues to urge lawmakers to invest in airport infrastructure to help stimulate the economy and support good-paying jobs around the country.
With the ink barely dry on a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package that includes $10 billion for airports, House Democrats are already eyeing an economic recovery package that would include funding for infrastructure projects. Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and other House Democratic leaders held a press conference to discuss their work on a "phase 4" bill to respond to the pandemic.
"We must take bold action to renew America's infrastructure," Pelosi said today. Pelosi said that House Democrats will update their $760 billion, five-year "Moving Forward" infrastructure framework that was initially released in January to add funding for community health centers, education, housing and other priorities related to the spread of COVID-19.
As a reminder, the original infrastructure plan from House Democrats called for raising the federal cap on local Passenger Facility Charges to an unspecified amount and indexing it for inflation. The framework also proposed investing $30 billion in airport and airway infrastructure with an emphasis on funding for sustainability and noise projects. Pelosi said the infrastructure portion of the Democratic framework would remain in the updated version of the proposal.
Speaker Pelosi said House Democrats are negotiating with the administration and hope to have bipartisan support for their proposal. President Trump recently weighed in on the need for an infrastructure package to stimulate the economy. "With interest rates for the United States being at ZERO, this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill. It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4," Trump tweeted. In addition, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said today that he is talking with Congress about a potential infrastructure package and reiterated that it is important to the President.
Despite Trump's apparent enthusiasm for an infrastructure package, Republican Congressional leaders have so far been lukewarm to the idea, saying there is no immediate need for a fourth coronavirus-related legislative package and that lawmakers should wait to see how the CARES Act, which was signed into law last Friday, impacts the economy. The updated plan from House Democrats could also include divisive issues that would make bipartisan support difficult. For example, Pelosi said today that Democrats hope to include national vote-by-mail language, which had drawn significant opposition from some Republican leaders.
Pelosi said she hoped the House could consider the updated proposal soon after lawmakers reconvene in Washington. The House is scheduled to meet again on April 20, but that date could be pushed back due to travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders in numerous states.
As discussions about a potential "phase 4" recovery bill pick up steam in Washington, AAAE continues to urge lawmakers to invest in airport infrastructure to help stimulate the economy and support good-paying jobs around the country.
