Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comAuthor: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC|November 15, 2021
After weeks of speculation and debate, Congress finally passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) on November 5, 2021. The massive spending bill cleared the House by a vote of 228-206, with only 13 Republicans supporting the bill, alongside all but 6 Democrats.
The $1 trillion infrastructure bill represents a historic investment in the country’s roads, bridges, ports, and rail transit. It also contains significant funding for safe water, the electric grid, high-speed internet, and environmental remediation.
At its core, the infrastructure bill provides significant funding for infrastructure improvements. Below are several key areas that will receive funding:
The infrastructure bill is just the first of several key pieces of legislation that the Biden Administration hopes to pass in the next several weeks. Democrats also hope to pass a $1.75 trillion social safety net and climate bill known as the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376). Among other provisions, the legislation would expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision care; provide certain aliens with a path to permanent resident status (e.g., those who entered the United States as minors); provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave; and restructure and increase the tax rates for certain corporations and high-income individuals. It would also establish programs to provide up to six semesters of free community college, free childcare for children under the age of six, and free universal preschool services.
With no Republicans on board, Democrats can lose no more than three Democrats in the House and need unanimous support from the party in the Senate. To date, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have both expressed reservations about the social spending bill. In addition, the Senate parliamentarian must review the bill to ensure it complies with the rules for reconciliation, which will allow the measure to pass by a simple majority in the chamber.
The clock is also ticking. The Senate is only scheduled to be in session for three weeks more weeks this year, with its recess set to begin on December 10, 2021. During that timeframe, Congress will also need to raise or suspend the debt ceiling and pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
While the passage of the infrastructure bill was a monumental accomplishment, it is just the first step of a lengthy process. The task of implementing the initiatives will fall on federal agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The federal agencies will need to develop new programs and revamp existing ones, as well as draft the rules and regulations to govern them. Given that they own or operate a large share of the country’s infrastructure, local municipalities will also play a pivotal role, which will include identifying and executing needed projects on the ground.
The rollout of such a massive government spending plan is bound to have hiccups. In addition to developing the new programs, agencies will need to hire a wide range of professionals and implement new technology to help carry it out. Hopefully, the White House will remember the lessons of the disastrous 2013 rollout of the Affordable Care Act and plan accordingly.
While it may take time to bring projects to fruition, a massive influx of new federal funding is coming. It will bring a wealth of new opportunities for a wide range of industries, including energy, transportation, electric vehicles, environmental services, cybersecurity, water, and broadband.
Scarinci Hollenbeck will continue to monitor new rules, regulations, and other guidance issued in connection with the Infrastructure Investment and American Jobs Act. Based in our Washington, D.C. office, Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Government Strategies practice group also stands ready to assist entities looking to capitalize on the new infrastructure spending, which includes helping to navigate the government funding and project approval process.
If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss the matter further, please contact me, Teddy Eynon, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work, at 201-896-4100.
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comAfter weeks of speculation and debate, Congress finally passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) on November 5, 2021. The massive spending bill cleared the House by a vote of 228-206, with only 13 Republicans supporting the bill, alongside all but 6 Democrats.
The $1 trillion infrastructure bill represents a historic investment in the country’s roads, bridges, ports, and rail transit. It also contains significant funding for safe water, the electric grid, high-speed internet, and environmental remediation.
At its core, the infrastructure bill provides significant funding for infrastructure improvements. Below are several key areas that will receive funding:
The infrastructure bill is just the first of several key pieces of legislation that the Biden Administration hopes to pass in the next several weeks. Democrats also hope to pass a $1.75 trillion social safety net and climate bill known as the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376). Among other provisions, the legislation would expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision care; provide certain aliens with a path to permanent resident status (e.g., those who entered the United States as minors); provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave; and restructure and increase the tax rates for certain corporations and high-income individuals. It would also establish programs to provide up to six semesters of free community college, free childcare for children under the age of six, and free universal preschool services.
With no Republicans on board, Democrats can lose no more than three Democrats in the House and need unanimous support from the party in the Senate. To date, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have both expressed reservations about the social spending bill. In addition, the Senate parliamentarian must review the bill to ensure it complies with the rules for reconciliation, which will allow the measure to pass by a simple majority in the chamber.
The clock is also ticking. The Senate is only scheduled to be in session for three weeks more weeks this year, with its recess set to begin on December 10, 2021. During that timeframe, Congress will also need to raise or suspend the debt ceiling and pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
While the passage of the infrastructure bill was a monumental accomplishment, it is just the first step of a lengthy process. The task of implementing the initiatives will fall on federal agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The federal agencies will need to develop new programs and revamp existing ones, as well as draft the rules and regulations to govern them. Given that they own or operate a large share of the country’s infrastructure, local municipalities will also play a pivotal role, which will include identifying and executing needed projects on the ground.
The rollout of such a massive government spending plan is bound to have hiccups. In addition to developing the new programs, agencies will need to hire a wide range of professionals and implement new technology to help carry it out. Hopefully, the White House will remember the lessons of the disastrous 2013 rollout of the Affordable Care Act and plan accordingly.
While it may take time to bring projects to fruition, a massive influx of new federal funding is coming. It will bring a wealth of new opportunities for a wide range of industries, including energy, transportation, electric vehicles, environmental services, cybersecurity, water, and broadband.
Scarinci Hollenbeck will continue to monitor new rules, regulations, and other guidance issued in connection with the Infrastructure Investment and American Jobs Act. Based in our Washington, D.C. office, Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Government Strategies practice group also stands ready to assist entities looking to capitalize on the new infrastructure spending, which includes helping to navigate the government funding and project approval process.
If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss the matter further, please contact me, Teddy Eynon, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work, at 201-896-4100.
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