Jobs Bill Includes $48 billion for Infrastructure

The US House of Representatives on December 17th narrowly approved a $154 billion jobs bill that includes $48.3 billion in federal funding for infrastructure. The Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 (HR 2847), passed by a vote of 217-212, also includes $26.7 billion to preserve state and local public service jobs and $79 billion for unemployment insurance, small business loans, health care assistance and other aid. The legislation uses $75 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) savings to pay for the infrastructure and job preservation investments. The Senate will consider jobs legislation in January.

The House jobs bill also extends the expired surface transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, until September 30, 2010. The extension provides a 100 percent federal share for transportation programs, repeals the prohibition on the Highway Trust Fund from collecting interest on its balance and restores $20 billion to Trust Fund. SAFETEA-LU expired September 30, 2009 and is currently funded through December 18th by a temporary extension.

Separate legislation approved by the House on December 17th, the Defense Appropriations bill, extends SAFETEA-LU until February 28, 2010. The Senate is expected to consider the bill December 18th or 19th.

Following is a breakdown of infrastructure funding included in the House jobs bill.

$27.5 billion Highways
$8.4 billion Transit
$800 million Amtrak
$500 million Airports
$100 million Maritime Administration (shipyard modernization
$2 billion Clean Water ($1 billion CWSRF and $1 billion SDWSRF)
$100 million Bureau of Reclamation (clean water for rural areas)
$715 million Corps of Engineers (environmental restoration, flood protection, hydropower and navigation projects)
$2 billion Energy Innovation Loans (DOE renewable energy and electric transmission projects)
$4.1 billion School Renovation
$1 billion Housing Trust Fund
$1 billion Public Housing Capital Fund

A summary and text of the legislation are posted at http://www.apwa.net/Advocacy/legislation.asp under Appropriations.

Infrastructure Investment Expected to be a Key Component in Jobs Creation Bill

House and Senate Leaders are developing a jobs creation bill aimed at reducing the nation’s 10 percent unemployment rate. Congressional leaders are looking closely at infrastructure investment, a highways funding bill and another extension of unemployment insurance as part of broad package of spending and investment to boost job creation.

Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, pitched Democratic leadership on the idea of using $100 billion in general fund money to pay for highway and transit projects over the next two years. The plan would quickly infuse funds into Public Works projects to stimulate the economy and would give Congress time to debate revenue changes that are needed to pay for a six-year Surface Transportation Authorization bill, currently stalled in the House and Senate.

Meanwhile, the Administration held a Jobs Summit on December 3. The forum was an opportunity for the president and his economic team to hear from chief executive officers, small business owners, labor leaders and financial experts about ideas for growing the economy and putting Americans back to work.

A timeline for the jobs creation package is still unclear, although Congressional leaders say they intend to have a complete package considered in January. The House may consider some elements before the end of the year. The overall size of the package and how it will be financed has yet to be determined.