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Rep. Elise Stefanik, Chairwoman
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Press Releases

“My Way Or The Highway” Flawed Infrastructure Bill

Washington, DC, July 1, 2021

Today, House Democrats will ram through their partisan infrastructure bill, which abandoned bipartisan infrastructure negotiations in favor of a partisan product that prioritizes Green New Deal mandates over rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure. 

The Democrats’ “My Way or the Highway Bill” reduces flexibility for states to meet their own unique infrastructure needs and instead prioritizes the Far Left’s GND agenda.

THE FACTS: 

  • The Democrat bill is NOT PAID FOR. Its spending increases rely heavily on more deficit spending, which will further fuel inflation and increase the cost of common goods like gas and food.

  • The bill FAILS to streamline the project review process, dramatically reduces flexibility for states and local partners to address their unique needs.

    • The average 6-year delay for major projects increases the estimated 14.85 MILLION tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually because of deficient infrastructure.

  • The Democrats’ big-government approach prevents states from putting federal dollars to use where they would most benefit their region.

    • For example, Sec. 1201 of the bill prohibits building new roads, and Sec. 1109 limits states’ ability to transfer funds out of the program for bike paths, recreational trails, and other projects.

  • NO help for Rural America.

  • The bill provides an estimated $276 BILLION for GND-related mandates, requirements, and programs, including $31.1 BILLION in new GND programs. 

  • An estimated $1 out of every $2 spent by this bill is tied up in GND goals.

  • Approximately $100 billion in this bill for roads and bridges alone will be wasted on project delays.

  • Delays from the NEPA process alone are estimated to cost our economy $3.7 TRILLION.

  • The Democrats’ bill has a loophole, which would allow U.S. tax dollars to flow to China for electric vehicle battery production. 

 

If Democrats were serious about infrastructure, they would reform the 50-year-old National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to make infrastructure project reviews more efficient, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery, and rebuild America. Reforming this law is long overdue, and we must make sure critical infrastructure projects can be built today rather than spending years waiting on a permit.