Skip to content

Back to Our Blog

8.2.21 Advocacy Alert: Senate Finalizes Bipartisan Infrastructure Details

Blog Categories

Josh Veronica

August 2, 2021

On Sunday, senators released the text of their bipartisan infrastructure bill.

With the 2,700-page text released, all 50 Democratic senators and 18 Republican senators voted to take up debate on the bill, indicating strong bipartisan support for the measure.

In total, this bill spends $1.2 trillion, including $550 billion in new spending. It provides substantial funding for roads, bridges, rail, public transit, ports, airports, and broadband. The bill uses numerous revenue tools, such as re-appropriating unused COVID relief funds, to finance it without raising taxes.

The Senate is currently debating the bill and possible amendments, and Majority Leader Schumer expects a final vote in the coming days.

Congressional Democrats are proceeding with their two-track approach (further explained here). The bipartisan bill released Sunday will address physical infrastructure; Democrats are also pushing for a second “human infrastructure” package.

Because of this approach, we are still far from a final deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly maintained that she will not bring the bipartisan physical infrastructure bill to a vote in the House until the Senate also passes the “human infrastructure” bill, a $3.5 trillion package of social spending that does not have the same bipartisan support.

Key Democratic senators, such as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), have been hesitant to support the "human infrastructure" bill. Given its size, the human infrastructure bill is expected to be financed by tax increases.

The BNP will share updates as Congressional negotiations continue.

To contact your Congressional representatives about the need to pass an infrastructure package, use our one-click tool here.

Related Posts

10.13.21 Advocacy Alert: Canadian Border to Open in November

By jveronica@thepartnership.org | October 13, 2021

Late last night, U.S. officials announced plans to reopen the U.S. border to vaccinated, non-essential travelers from Canada and Mexico beginning in early November.

The administration told reporters last night that it does not plan to require vaccinated travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test, a notable difference from Canada’s policy for American travelers.

BNP Advocacy Insider – October 2021

By kbieniek@thepartnership.org | October 6, 2021

The October 2021 Advocacy Insider is a roundup of important issues we are monitoring that could you and your business.

10.6.21 Advocacy Alert: Comptroller’s Report Warns of UI Rate Increases

By jveronica@thepartnership.org | October 6, 2021

Unless the state swiftly acts, New York employers may soon face significant unemployment insurance rate increases.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently released a report detailing the dire financial status of the state’s UI system, confirming concerns that the BNP raised this summer.

Workforce & Labor Concerns Dominate BNP’s annual Member Pulse Report

By kbieniek@thepartnership.org | October 2, 2021

The Partnership’s annual Advocacy & Member Survey is designed to identify pain points, areas of concern, and obstacles to growth. We have summarized the 2021 results in the Member Pulse Report.

According to the survey, the top concern of Buffalo Niagara employers is their difficulty finding and retaining qualified talent.