With support from a United States Chamber of Commerce coalition that includes the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the U.S. Senate today (August 10) overwhelming passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Job Acts of 2021. The bipartisan bill drew support from all 50 Senate Democrats and 19 Senate Republicans.
The Democratically-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is expected to approve the Senate’s legislation and advance its own $3.5T infrastructure bill—which Senate Democrats could pass through budget reconciliation if less than 10 Republicans will support—both of President Joseph R. Biden is expected to sign into law.
The Senate bill includes $550 billion in new federal spending over a five-year period, including:
- $110 billion in roads, bridges, and major projects
- $66 billion in passenger and freight rail
- $65 billion to rebuild the electric grid
- $39 billion to modernize and expand transit systems
- $7.5 billion to build a national network of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles
- $55 billion for water infrastructure (including $15 billion for replacing lead pipes).
ECCI is among a diverse group of 315 chambers of commerce, business organizations and labor groups which signed onto the Build by the Fourth of July Campaign co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber and Bipartisan Policy Center.
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:
“Our elected leaders are on the precipice of a historic investment in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Turning this long-overdue promise into a reality will grow our economy and strengthen our competitiveness for decades to come. We applaud the Senate for doing its job on a bipartisan basis, thoughtfully debating and passing much-needed infrastructure legislation that will finally invest in America’s roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure, create millions of jobs, and improve the quality of life for every American. Now it is time for the House to continue the bipartisan progress and send this bill to the president’s desk.”