Biden administration infrastructure bill comes to a vote

After months of political haggling, the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill is scheduled for a definitive vote in the House of Representatives on September 27. All current indicators point to this long-awaited effort to address the nation's aging infrastructure being enacted into law. The bill's passage in the Senate by a 69-30 vote was a striking success for President Joe Biden's vision of bipartisanship.

After Democratic moderates insisted on a date-certain vote despite efforts by Democratic liberals to link a vote on the bill to the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation, it is likely that a similar showing of bipartisan support will occur in the House.

Bill's main elements

The bill promises to fund work on virtually every element of "traditional" infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, rail, public transportation, airports, and water projects. In addition, significant funding (over $170 billion) will be provided for improvements to the power grid, expansion of broadband, climate change mitigation, and cybersecurity.

Furthermore, the legislation seeks to increase investment in electric vehicle charging stations and incentivize a transition to electric vehicles, both of which are major priorities for the Biden administration and its goal of transforming the United States to net-zero emissions. The latter provisions are emblematic of the changing meaning of "infrastructure" and the federal government's role in addressing these emerging needs.

'Soft infrastructure' in limbo