House to vote on $715 billion transportation bill amid infrastructure push

While President Biden travels across the country to promote his multi-trillion dollar infrastructure plan and the bipartisan deal negotiated in the Senate, the House will vote this week on a separate $715 billion five-year transportation bill that shares some similarities with the bipartisan proposal.

The House is expected to vote on the INVEST in America Act on Thursday, after voting Wednesday on amendments. The measure would dedicate $343 billion to roads, bridges and safety, $109 billion to transit, and $95 billion to passenger and freight rail. It would also commit $117 billion to drinking water infrastructure and over $51 billion to wastewater infrastructure. The bill is expected to pass along party lines, even though it includes earmarks proposed by Republican members that would explicitly help their districts. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators last week reached a deal on a $579 billion infrastructure proposal endorsed by Mr. Biden. The president is also committed to supporting a larger bill to address Democratic priorities that aren't included in the bipartisan measure. Democrats would use the budget reconciliation procedure,  which enables them to pass the bill without any Republican support. The reconciliation bill is expected to include "human" infrastructure priorities outlined in Mr. Biden's American Families Plan, including child care, health care and education.