On March 16, AGC met with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Acting Administrator Stephanie Pollack. Prior to joining FHWA, Pollack served as the Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. This introductory meeting provided AGC an opportunity to discuss mutual priorities between the association and agency, including addressing challenges facing the surface transportation system, construction workforce and diversity and inclusion in the industry. AGC looks forward to further meetings and continuing the conversation on how to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure with other leaders of the Department of Transportation.

Short Answer: It’s Not Clear

House Democrats unveiled their long-awaited plan to revive earmarks – or “congressionally directed spending” as they are rebranded. The plan would allow members of Congress to direct money in the annual spending bills that would benefit specific projects in their district. The ban on this practice had resulted in this spending authority being ceded to the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) through discretionary grants. Following that announcement, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio noted that earmarks would be included in the upcoming surface transportation bill and that additional details would be coming later this month. The Senate is separately working out a plan to restore earmarks however the path forward is less clear. AGC will continue to track this issue as further details are released.

Includes Significant Funding for Infrastructure with New Federal Strings Attached

On February 27, the U.S. House passed President Biden’s $1.9T COVID-relief bill by a 219-212 vote, mostly along party lines. The measure is now soon to be considered by the Senate. On the infrastructure front, the package would provide: $30 billion to public transit programs, $8 billion to airports and $1.5 billion to Amtrak. The vast majority of those funds would go to maintaining existing operations, not capital construction. The measure would also provide $350 billion for state and local governments.

Carper Reiterates Memorial Day Goal for Committee Passage of Bill

Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements, Local Hire Mandates and More

On February 10, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved its portion of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill. The legislation would provide $30 billion to public transit programs, $8 billion to airports and $1.5 billion to Amtrak. The vast majority of those funds would go to maintaining existing operations. However, the Federal Transit Administration’s capital investment grants programs would receive $1.25 billion ($1 billion for New Starts and Core Capacity program and 250 million for Small Starts program) and $608 million would be allocated to airport development projects. While some have pointed to the $350 billion allotted for state and local governments in the president’s COVID-relief bill as a possible way to help fund new construction investment projects, how exactly that funding is spent appears likely to be left to state and local governments to decide. At a minimum, that funding could help prevent public owners from delaying or canceling construction projects.

On February 2, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) by an 86-13 vote. Buttigieg officially took the helm of the Department upon his swearing in by Vice President Kamala Harris on February 3. During his January 21 hearing, he affirmed his commitment to the Biden Administration’s plans to prioritize rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure. Ahead of the hearing, AGC stated its support for Buttigieg’s confirmation and called on the committee to expeditiously advance his nomination. AGC looks forward to working with Secretary Buttigieg to address the vital needs of our nation’s infrastructure.

Final Vote on Nomination Expected in Coming Weeks