Government affairs

On Friday, the House passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), a $1.2 trillion bill that invests in roads, bridges, airports, transit, rail, broadband, electric charging stations, power grid modernization and clean drinking water.

The bill includes $550 billion of new spending over five years. Specifically, it includes $110 billion in funding for roads and bridges, $39 billion to modernize and improve public transportation, $25 billion for airports, $17 billion for ports and waterways, $65 billion for reliable high-speed internet access, $55 billion for clean water, $7.5 billion for a network of electric vehicle charging stations and $65 billion for the nation’s power grid.

The Senate passed the bill in August, and the 228-206 House vote sent the bill to President Biden’s desk, which he is expected to sign into law soon. 13 Republicans supported the bipartisan bill: Don Bacon (R-NE), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), John Katko (R-NY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), David McKinley (R-WV), Tom Reed (R-NY), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Fred Upton (R-MI), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Don Young (R-AK). Six Democrats, who called on the bill to be considered in parallel with the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376), voted no. They are Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). 

The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a major win for the White House, and lawmakers are now focusing on another part of President Biden’s agenda, the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act, a package that includes funding to support the nation’s education system, climate provisions, healthcare and tax laws. Notably, this bill would provide $2.5 billion for the Postal Service to acquire electric vehicles and provide an additional $3.4 billion for the necessary infrastructure to support these vehicles.

The House plans to hold a vote on H.R. 5376 next week. With the passage of the infrastructure bill and action expected on the budget reconciliation package, NALC is hopeful that lawmakers will call postal reform legislation to the floor soon. The bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act (H.R. 3076/S.1720), a bill that aims to provide financial and operational stability to the Postal Service, was introduced in May and remains one of NALC’s top priorities.

"NALC appreciates the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and commends this monumental investment in our nation's infrastructure," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "We now urge Congress to hold a vote on the Build Back Better Act, which includes critical funding for the Postal Service. Following a vote on this important legislation, we call on Congress to take action and pass bipartisan postal reform that will help bring stability to the agency."