The U.S. House of Representatives again failed to pass the AGC-supported $1.2T bipartisan (physical) infrastructure bill—formally called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (click HERE for a construction industry overview and HERE for a “Myth vs. Fact” analysis of the bill)—as the federal-aid highway and transit construction programs were set to expire on Oct. 31. As a result, Congress passed an AGC-backed extension of the highway and transit programs until December 3.
A handful of progressive House Democrats—empowered by House Republican Leadership’s opposition to the bipartisan infrastructure bill—derailed its passage in September and again in October because there was not final agreement among Democrats on the AGC-opposed Build Back Better Act (click HERE for a construction industry overview), a multi-trillion dollar social spending and climate policy package.
AGC had urged Congressional leadership to pass an extension if an agreement was unable to be reached to ensure construction companies and their workers would continue to get paid. They were unable to find enough votes to pass the bill in the House and as a result Congress passed an extension of the highway and transit programs until December 3. AGC is hopeful that Congress can get the bipartisan bill across the finish line before the next deadline.