Airport Alert: House Problem Solvers Caucus Introduces Framework for an Infrastructure Package

April 23, 2021

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan convened a bipartisan Infrastructure Summit of governors, senators and members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus to discuss guiding principles for a federal infrastructure package.  

Of note, the summit was attended by key members of the G-20, a bipartisan group of 10 Democratic and 10 Republican senators, including Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Todd Young (R-IN). The G-20 was instrumental in helping navigate the second COVID relief package through Congress last December and could play a similar role in the ongoing negotiations over infrastructure.

At the press conference, Senator Manchin reiterated his desire for Congress to address conventional infrastructure in a bipartisan way through regular order. This is important given that his vote will be critical if Democrats choose instead to utilize the reconciliation process to pass President Biden's American Jobs Plan.

Concurrently, the House Problem Solvers Caucus, led by Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom Reed (R-NY), released its new report containing bipartisan policy recommendations to rebuild American infrastructure. The report is a guiding document to define infrastructure and focus the scope on what is needed for bipartisan agreement; however, it avoids addressing critical details over funding levels and pay-fors. 

Concerning the aviation sector, the report states: "The critical roles airports play locally, regionally, and nationally make them an essential part of our national infrastructure. Whether serving as an economic engine, rural community access point, or critical site for emergency preparedness and response, Congress should work to ensure the viability of these important infrastructure assets."

Overall, the report introduces a third lane — in addition to the Biden American Jobs Plan and the Senate Republican counter proposal released yesterday — to the ongoing negotiations over infrastructure in Congress. For airports, it reaffirms, yet again, that there is bipartisan consensus that airport improvements must be part of any infrastructure package going forward.