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Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled a $568 billion infrastructure package that, at about a quarter of the price of President Joe Biden‘s proposal, seeks to narrow what is defined as infrastructure.
The proposal focuses on roads and bridges, public transportation, railways, drinking water, wastewater, safety, waterways, airports, water storage, and broadband Internet, and steers clear of Democrats’ wishlist items such as affordable housing, and care for the elderly and disabled.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who backs the limited package, said Biden’s proposal goes beyond what’s considered infrastructure.
“Today, we set a clear path forward on core principles that DEFINE infrastructure & address our country’s needs,” she tweeted. “This framework continues our conversations w/Democrat colleagues & the administration.
The Republican proposal would cost $568 billion over five years, the bulk of which — $299 billion — would go toward the Federal Highway Administration for roads and bridges. The Federal Transit Administration would receive $61 billion for public transit; rail would receive $20 billion; the Environmental Protection Agency would get $35 billion for drinking water and wastewater; $13 billion would go toward safety; $17 billion for ports and inland waterways; $44 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration for airports; and $65 billion for broadband infrastructure.
Republicans are prioritizing a plan that would avoid increasing the federal debt and would preserve the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — notably not increasing the corporate tax.
