02/07/18 CAGTC: Bipartisan Senate Budget Includes Infrastructure Spending Increase

CAGTC Members,

Today, the Senate released a two-year bipartisan budget deal that would increase federal spending caps in a number of areas, including infrastructure investment. Under the deal, $20 billion in federal investments over two years would be used to “help address the extensive backlog of highway, transit, rail, clean water, and wastewater projects.”

The deal would increase federal spending caps by just under $300 billion, both for defense and non-defense discretionary funding, but would not offset those increases by spending cuts or new tax revenue. According to the White House, the deal would also extend the debt ceiling until March 2019. Both Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) applauded the deal, with Senator Schumer calling it “historic” and Senator McConnell urging “every Senator to review [the] legislation and join [them] in voting to advance it.”

To be clear, this budget does not replace the need for a continuing resolution or appropriations law. As a reminder, the most recent continuing resolution (CR) funding the federal government expires tomorrow night at midnight. The House passed another CR last night, which would provide six more weeks of funding for the federal government. Various articles are reporting that the Senate plans to add this two-year deal to the CR. Early indicators suggest the bill will easily pass the Senate but could face more difficulty in the House due to various concerns, such as increases in federal spending and immigration issues.

As always, we will be sure to keep you updated!

Thank you,

Katie Cross
Manager, Member Communications & Policy

Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
1625 K Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
tradecorridors.org