The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2, known as the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan covering not only traditional transportation, but also schools, housing, drinking water, broadband, and clean energy.

The legislation, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.), included the language from the $494 billion Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act, known as the INVEST in America Act. The bill passed along a party-line vote of 0-0, with Republicans opposing how the bill was crafted and the inclusion of provisions focused on environmental protections.

The Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act is headed for a full vote in the House of Representatives prior to July 4, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who said voting could begin as early as June 30.

After a markup process that lasted a little more than 24 hours, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted to pass the INVEST in America Act late Thursday night. The committee voted along party lines, 35-25, to pass the five-year surface transportation reauthorization through the committee. The markup saw the consideration of 177 amendments over a two-day span that, at times, became heated as Republicans made it clear they believed they were shut out in drafting the $494 billion package.

ATSSA commends the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on moving the INVEST in America Act out of committee today. The bill, which includes historic funding levels for roadway safety infrastructure projects, moves the highway bill reauthorization process closer to the finish line before the looming Oct. 1 deadline.

ATSSA was encouraged by this week’s call from House Democratic leaders for another COVID-19 package that includes infrastructure funding.

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a list of priorities the Democratic Caucus is targeting in a fourth COVID-19 economic package, which includes attention to transportation projects and mobility.

The Moving Forward plan calls for recovery by investing in “smarter, safer infrastructure that is made to last” and that would produce “millions of good-paying jobs.”

If you weren’t able to attend the 50^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo or haven’t mastered the art of being in two places at once, you missed some great presentations by experts in the roadway safety field. The great news is, you can find out what you missed during the convention’s concurrent education sessions!

Recordings of the education sessions are now online and available for free. In addition, materials provided by the presenters are posted there as well.