An Analysis of the US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Introduction
On November 6th, 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was heralded by the Biden administration as a major bipartisan accomplishment. It has since become a key talking point for Democratic Party candidates at the national, state-wide and even local level.
While it was originally intended to cost $547-715 billion, it was later expanded to include funding for broadband access, clean water and electric grid renewal, in addition to funding for transportation infrastructure, which inflated the size to an estimated $1.2 trillion in spending. (Wikipedia, 2023)
(source: NYT)
Public Opinion on the Infrastructure Bill
The infrastructure bill has enjoyed relatively high public approval ratings, with 63% of Americans approving of the legislation, according to a poll by USA Today and Suffolk University. The Biden Administration has highlighted the climate change mitigation aspect of the bill, which will accelerate the adoption of zero emission vehicles by expanding access to public transport and developing a nationwide network of EV chargers.
This has proven popular with progressive democrats, who have since grown warmer to the prospect of President Biden running for re-election in 2024. According to the Hill, a political news source, progressive talk about replacing Biden has 'flamed out, and would face no viable primary opponents if he was to seek re-election (The Hill, 2023)
Voting on the Infrastructure Bill in Congress
While the infrastructure bill did enjoy significant bipartisan support in the Senate, passing 69-30, and even earning the support of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, it garnered far less support from Republicans in the House, passing 228-206. While this split cannot be attributed to one factor, Senators have traditionally been more willing to cross party lines.
A Breakdown of the Infrastructure Bill's Components
The financial media website Investopedia has put together a list of the components that make up the infrastructure bill:
$110 billion for roads and bridges. In addition to construction and repair, the funding also helps pay for transportation research at universities, funding for Puerto Rico’s highways, and “congestion relief” in American cities.
$66 billion for railroads. Funding includes upgrades and maintenance of America’s passenger rail system and freight rail safety, but there's nothing for high-speed rail.
$65 billion for the power grid. The bill would fund updates to power lines and cables, in addition to providing money to prevent hacking of the power grid. Clean energy funding is also included.
$65 billion for broadband. Includes funding to expand broadband in rural areas and in low-income communities. Approximately $14 billion of the total would help reduce Internet bills for low-income citizens.
$55 billion for water infrastructure. This funding includes $15 billion for lead pipe replacement, $10 billion for chemical clean-up, and money to provide clean drinking water in tribal communities.
$50+ billion for cybersecurity and climate change. This resilience funding will protect infrastructure from cybersecurity attacks and address flooding, wildfires, coastal erosion, and droughts along with other extreme weather events.
$39 billion for public transit. Funding here provides for upgrades to public transit systems nationwide. The allocation also includes money to create new bus routes and help make public transit more accessible to seniors and disabled Americans.
$25 billion for airports. This allocation provides funding for major upgrades and expansions at U.S. airports. Air traffic control towers and systems would receive $5 billion of the total for upgrades.
$21 billion for the environment. These monies would be used to clean up superfund and brownfield sites, abandoned mines, and old oil and gas wells.
$17 billion for ports. Half of the funds in this category would go to the Army Corps of Engineers for port infrastructure. Additional funds would go to the Coast Guard, ferry terminals, and reduction of truck emissions at ports.
$11 billion for safety. Appropriations here are to address highway, pedestrian, pipeline, and other safety areas with highway safety getting the bulk of the funding.
$8 billion for western water infrastructure. Ongoing drought conditions in the western half of the country will be addressed through investments in water treatment, storage, and reuse facilities.
$7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations. The Biden Administration asked for this funding to build significantly more charging stations for electric vehicles across the nation.
$7.5 billion for electric school buses. With an emphasis on bus fleet replacement in low-income, rural, and tribal communities, this funding is expected to allow those communities to convert to zero-emission buses.
(Investopedia, 2023)
Conclusion
With former South Carolina Governor and Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, announcing a run, the 2024 Presidential Election Campaign is heating up. The success of Biden's own expected run hinges on the success of his infrastructure bill. As Bill Clinton's former campaign strategist James Carville said 'it's the economy, stupid'!
Citations
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2023) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrastructure_Investment_and_Jobs_Act (Accessed: February 12, 2023).
Trudo, H. (2023) Progressive talk about replacing Biden Flames out, The Hill. The Hill. Available at: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3853244-progressive-talk-about-replacing-biden-flames-out/ (Accessed: February 13, 2023).
Probasco, J. (2023) Understanding the recent infrastructure legislation, Investopedia. Investopedia. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/here-s-what-s-in-the-usd1-trillion-infrastructure-bill-passed-by-the-senate-5196817 (Accessed: February 14, 2023).