Lawmakers offer competing priorities for infrastructure plans

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed enthusiasm for a potential infrastructure package under the Biden administration Friday, while offering competing priorities for what the legislation should include.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), speaking at The Hill’s “Reset 2021: A New American Start” event, stressed that infrastructure “has to be a national effort.”

.@RepPeterDeFazio on making infrastructure a federal issue, not a state issue: “this has to be a national effort” #TheHillReset https://t.co/s4tkbfBbOK pic.twitter.com/iZszkzcnit

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) January 29, 2021

Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), speaking at the same event, argued that the benefits of infrastructure can be achieved with funding mechanisms that don’t include an increase in the federal gas tax.

“I think we need to pivot to something a little more equitable, something that brings in those dollars from individuals using the roads and bridges,” Graves told The Hill’s Steve Clemons.

.@RepSamGraves proposes moving away from a gas tax and towards a “user fee”: “I think we need to pivot to something a little more equitable, something that brings in those dollars from individuals using the roads and bridges” #TheHillReset https://t.co/s4tkbfBbOK pic.twitter.com/0c5t98DkBY

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) January 29, 2021

“We’ve been working on an infrastructure package for some time … I am hoping we will be able to do something.”

Congressional optimism for action on an infrastructure is running high after four years of fits and starts during the Trump administration. Bipartisan support for infrastructure never gained traction, due in large part to differences over the price tag and whether environment-related provisions should be included.

Democratic lawmakers weighed into that debate again Friday, with Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, saying there should be bipartisan support for implementing a carbon fee.

“Polluters ought to pay. They should pay for the carbon they put into the atmosphere,” he said.

.@RepTedDeutch on bi-partisan support for implementing a carbon fee: “Polluters ought to pay. They should pay for the carbon they put into the atmosphere” #TheHillReset https://t.co/s4tkbfBbOK pic.twitter.com/tcU0JPnEA5

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) January 29, 2021

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), a member of the Joint Economic Committee, emphasized at the event that there needs to be targeted spending when it comes to infrastructure funding.

“A lot of the lobbying population still see the world of infrastructure as pouring concrete. For many of us, we want to say, ‘What is the ultimate definition that is actually good for our communities? What actually creates the most economic growth? It’s going to be a combination of technology, smart design, and pouring that concrete,’ ” Schweikert said.

.@RepDavid on an “economic renaissance” for the country: “Micro-ventures don’t have a political lobbying voice, yet we can see how powerful they are in the underpinning of the economy. And also, the efficiencies they bring” #TheHillReset https://t.co/s4tkbfBbOK pic.twitter.com/FARMytBBjC

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) January 29, 2021

Overall, though, there was bipartisan support to advance an infrastructure package of some kind in the 117th Congress. 

“Infrastructure is something that we inherently know is important and something that needs to be done but coupled with the pandemic and our need to increase economic growth. Infrastructure just seems to be a natural mechanism by which we can do that,” Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) said.

Rep. @StaceyPlaskett on the necessity of passing an infrastructure package: “I think broadband is an expansive term – I think it is the modern-day transportation and for us to have good and services…we’ve got to get it done” #TheHillReset https://t.co/s4tkbfBbOK pic.twitter.com/vLTqtAqqQ4

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) January 29, 2021