On July 1, the House on a nearly party-line vote of 221–201 passed a five-year, $715 billion surface transportation and water infrastructure bill. The bill includes $547 billion for roads, bridges, transit improvement, and freight rail, as well as nearly $120 billion on infrastructure related to drinking water.
The action last week fulfilled House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) commitment to clear an infrastructure bill before the July Fourth holiday.
The House-passed legislation will not become law in its current form; it will serve as a starting point for future negotiations with the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Senate continues work to develop legislation based on a $1.2 trillion physical infrastructure framework deal between a bipartisan group of senators and the White House. Lawmakers aim to pass a broad infrastructure package before current surface transportation authority expires Sept. 30.
Congressional Schedule
The House and Senate this week are in district and state work periods, respectively, in observance of the July Fourth holiday. Both chambers will return to Washington, D.C., on July 12.
