House Transportation Bill

On Thursday, June 24, 2021, the House voted 221-201 and passed a bill (HR 3684) that would authorize more than $720 billion in surface transportation and water project spending, mostly over five years. The package is considered critical because the current bill is set to expire Sept. 30. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair DeFazio has been following the legislative and policy language that President Biden is seeking in a broader infrastructure package. Over a decade, the bill would spend $294.8 billion above baseline contract authority -- the amount authorized to sustain existing infrastructure -- a 50 percent increase over current levels.  The legislation included member-chosen projects as the House is returning to using earmarking for the first time in years. It includes $427.5 million in earmarked highway and transit projects, and about $80 million earmarked for airports.