Washington, D.C. – Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) today voted against H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act which reduces flexibility and funds the Democrats’ Green New Deal and partisan agenda. House Democrats introduced this $1.5 trillion bill without any way to pay for it and relied on deficit spending to fund new grant programs and mandates that make it harder for non-federal partners to accomplish the infrastructure priorities of their communities. 

“The INVEST in America Act is partisan legislation disguised as an infrastructure bill that does not actually address our nation’s most pressing infrastructure needs," said Rep. Bacon. "This expensive bill discourages states from investing in new highways, bridges, and public transportation and instead focuses more on implementing the Green New Deal. I could not vote for a bill that fails to address our critical requirements, while pitting our urban and rural communities against one another.”   

For decades, infrastructure has been a bipartisan issue where Members of both sides of the aisle were able to come together and pass meaningful legislation. Current surface reauthorization programs are authorized until September 30, 2020, under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Congress must act before then to reauthorize these programs. 

“I urge House leadership to take up S.2302, the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019, which passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works," added Bacon. "This bipartisan legislation seeks to streamline infrastructure projects, ensure both rural and urban communities can access safer roads, and lead the United States towards a more modern transportation system.” 

S.2303 authorizes $287 billion over five years, a 27 percent increase over FAST Act-enacted levels. 

“Many of America’s transportation and infrastructure workers are already facing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Rep. Bacon. "Congress must not add uncertainty to this industry and instead come together to support bipartisan solutions and legislation that benefits all communities. I am committed to finding a solution that addresses our nation’s most pressing infrastructure needs.”

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