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INFRASTRUCTURE BILL: $1TN FOR CLEAN ENERGY, INTERNET, TRAINS AND MORE

Published6 November
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Image source, Getty Images

The US House of Representatives has finally passed a sweeping $1tn (£722bn)
infrastructure bill, after weeks of wrangling between progressive and moderate
Democrats.

The long-awaited legislation now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for a final
signature.

Let's take a look at the most interesting numbers to come out of it.

There's a proposed $550bn in direct federal spending for infrastructure - about
what was spent in 1956 to build the US interstate highway system. But from
addressing global warming concerns to remote working issues, this isn't your
grandparents' infrastructure package.




$110BN FOR WHAT YOU THINK OF AS INFRASTRUCTURE

Roads, bridges, major projects - lawmakers have allotted about a fifth of the
federal spending in this bill to all the things that come to mind at the word
infrastructure. It could be called overdue; a World Economic Forum report in
2019 put the US shy of the top 10 among other wealthy nations for transportation
infrastructure. And 20% of major highways and roads plus 45,000 bridges are
considered to be in poor condition, according to the White House.

There's also an additional $55bn set out for water infrastructure, to replace
lead pipes and ensure access to clean drinking water.


 * Biden's plan to tackle racism with roads


$66BN FOR TRAINS

That trains feature in this historic legislation is unsurprising under a
president with an Amtrak station named after him. Though it's less money than Mr
Biden initially hoped for, $66bn has been set aside to upgrade passenger and
freight rail, with grants as well for intercity and high-speed train services.
The funds would also go towards connecting more areas with rail, beyond the
eastern seaboard.


$65BN FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET

The digital divide has become a bigger issue in recent years - with inequalities
thrown into relief during the remote-everything of the pandemic. This allotment
seeks to link up millions living in rural and lower-income communities with
reliable internet access. Companies who receive a share of this government
funding will need to have lower-priced plans on offer and allow customers to
compare costs. A programme to subsidise internet and related tech for low income
families is also on the books.


$73BN FOR CLEAN ENERGY

Going green and clean was a big part of Mr Biden's campaign promises. His
earlier hopes for over $100bn towards clean energy have been temporarily dashed,
but this bill puts billions towards new power lines, rebuilding America's old
electric grids and expanding clean energy. Building new transmission lines with
higher-voltage capacities will be key to getting this clean energy out across
the country. There are over a dozen billions in addition for electrifying public
transportation and building more electric car chargers. Add $21bn more to the
tally for cleaning up soil and groundwater in old mines and gas fields.


$256BN... FOR THE DEFICIT

All these 'once-in-a-generation' billions have to come from somewhere. Lawmakers
say the package will come from unused economic relief funds, taxes on
cryptocurrency, and delaying a healthcare rebate package, among other smaller
sources.

Last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that this
spending bill would add $256bn over the next 10 years to the US deficit - though
it didn't take into account revenue that could come from these infrastructure
projects or the pandemic funds states could return.


RELATED TOPICS

 * Infrastructure
 * US Congress
 * Joe Biden





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