Congressman Votes For Large Infrastructure Bill

UPDATED: 8:01 p.m., Saturday:

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick released the following statement:

“With the House passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we are one step closer to fixing our nation’s crumbling physical infrastructure. This is a victory for not only the people of Pennsylvania, but for the entire country. 

The federal government has created the crisis of deteriorating roads, defunct bridges, and vulnerable dams and levees through its inaction. These types of arteries are the lifeblood of American commerce and must be improved. America’s infrastructure has reached a breaking point, and this is a challenge we can no longer ignore. 

From the start, I have insisted on the passage of a hard infrastructure bill, delinked from any other partisan, social spending package. This bipartisan, physical infrastructure bill, which passed the Senate in August with strong Republican support, is entirely separate from the partisan reconciliation bill, which I oppose.

The bipartisan infrastructure package is completely paid for, primarily by unspent COVID-19 relief funds, and will create a dedicated funding stream for our nation’s infrastructure network. I look forward to the President signing this landmark physical infrastructure legislation into law, so that we can bring America’s infrastructure network into the 21st century, create jobs, and improve the health and safety of the American people.” 

Original Story:

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick was one of a small group of Republicans to vote for a massive infrastructure bill.

The bill passed 228-206 late Friday night. A small group of progressive Democrats opposed the bill and 13 Republicans, including Fitzpatrick, voted with the majority of Democrats for it.

The $1.2 trillion dollar bipartisan bill is a major victory for President Joe Biden and the Democratic and Republican lawmakers who supported it. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump talked of major infrastructure bills but they were unable to get them done.

Fitzpatrick, a Middletown Township resident who is serving his third term, has spoken in support of investment in infrastructure throughout his time in Congress.

Axios reported a breakdown of what is in the bill:

• $110 billion toward roads, bridges and other much-needed infrastructure fix-ups across the country; $40 billion is new funding for bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation and $17.5 billion is for major projects;
• $73 billion for the country’s electric grid and power structures;
• $66 billion for rail services;
• $65 billion for broadband;
• $55 billion for water infrastructure;
• $21 billion in environmental remediation;
• $47 billion for flooding and coastal resiliency as well as “climate resiliency,” including protections against fires, etc.;
• $39 billion to modernize transit, which is the largest federal investment in public transit in history, according to the White House;
• $25 billion for airports;
• $17 billion in port infrastructure;
• $11 billion in transportation safety programs;
• $7.5 billion for electric vehicles and EV charging; $2.5 billion in zero-emission buses, $2.5 billion in low-emission buses, and $2.5 billion for ferries; and
• The bill will include language regarding enforcement of unemployment insurance fraud

In past interviews, Fitzpatrick has said “infrastructure isn’t an expense” and said “it’s an investment.”

Fitzpatrick’s office has not responded to interview requests on the topic in recent months.

Early Saturday morning, Biden said in statement that the bill is a success for Americans and businesses.

SEPTA is among the transit agencies that will see investment through the infrastructure plan.

“SEPTA commends members of the Southeast Pennsylvania Congressional delegation for passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and we are grateful for their unwavering efforts to secure vital investment in public transportation in the final bill. As a multimodal, legacy transit agency, SEPTA has immense infrastructure state of good repair and vehicle replacement challenges that strain our limited capital budget,” SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale “Pat” Deon Sr. and SEPTA CEO and GM Leslie Richards said in statement.

The Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers of which Fitzpatrick is the co-chair, were among those who worked to turn the storm of ideas into the infrastructure plan.

A Morning Consult/Politico poll from just over a month ago showed a similar version of the bipartisan infrastructure plan had majority support, with close to 40 percent of Republicans backing the Democratic-led plan.

Fitzpatrick did not vote in support of a procedural matter following the infrastructure vote that will allow the Build Back Better Act to go before the House of Representatives next week.

Voting on the Build Back Better Act, which calls for spending on social programs, new benefits for older Americans, and investment in combating climate change, is expected to take place in the coming days.

The Build Back Better plan is a major part of Biden’s domestic agenda.

“The Build Back Better Act will be a once-in-a-generation investment in our people,” Biden said in a statement. “It will lower bills for healthcare, child care, elder care, prescription drugs, and preschool. And middle-class families get a tax cut.”

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