Skip to content

Back to Our Blog

8.2.21 Advocacy Alert: Senate Finalizes Bipartisan Infrastructure Details

Blog Categories

August 2, 2021

On Sunday, senators released the text of their bipartisan infrastructure bill.

With the 2,700-page text released, all 50 Democratic senators and 18 Republican senators voted to take up debate on the bill, indicating strong bipartisan support for the measure.

In total, this bill spends $1.2 trillion, including $550 billion in new spending. It provides substantial funding for roads, bridges, rail, public transit, ports, airports, and broadband. The bill uses numerous revenue tools, such as re-appropriating unused COVID relief funds, to finance it without raising taxes.

The Senate is currently debating the bill and possible amendments, and Majority Leader Schumer expects a final vote in the coming days.

Congressional Democrats are proceeding with their two-track approach (further explained here). The bipartisan bill released Sunday will address physical infrastructure; Democrats are also pushing for a second “human infrastructure” package.

Because of this approach, we are still far from a final deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly maintained that she will not bring the bipartisan physical infrastructure bill to a vote in the House until the Senate also passes the “human infrastructure” bill, a $3.5 trillion package of social spending that does not have the same bipartisan support.

Key Democratic senators, such as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), have been hesitant to support the "human infrastructure" bill. Given its size, the human infrastructure bill is expected to be financed by tax increases.

The BNP will share updates as Congressional negotiations continue.

To contact your Congressional representatives about the need to pass an infrastructure package, use our one-click tool here.

Related Posts

8.2.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Cuomo Makes Recommendations on Vaccination Efforts

By growthzone | August 2, 2021

Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.

7.30.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Poloncarz Updates BNP Members on Delta Variant

By growthzone | July 30, 2021

At a special briefing for BNP members this morning, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz provided updates on the county’s COVID-19 status and indicated mask mandates could eventually return.

7.26.21 Webisode: What Employers Need to Know About the NY HERO Act – #2 Understanding & Implementing Prevention Standards

By growthzone | July 26, 2021

The NY HERO Act creates new workplace safety standards that every private employer in New York will have to follow. These standards govern a wide variety of topics, including health screening, masks and PPE, handwashing, surface disinfecting, social distancing, quarantines, and ventilation.

7.21.21 Advocacy Alert: US Extends Canadian Border Closure to August 21

By growthzone | July 21, 2021

Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it was extending its ban on non-essential land entry by Canadian travelers through August 21.

The move comes on the heels of Canada’s decision Monday to reopen its land border to vaccinated, non-essential American travelers on August 9.