Great Lakes Day 2022 Congressional Breakfast Reception Registration Now Open
Registration for the Great Lakes Day 2022 Congressional Breakfast Reception is now open and can be found here. The Breakfast, which is co-hosted by the Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Great Lakes Commission, will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 2 at 9 a.m. EST. The event will feature remarks on Great Lakes priorities by regional leaders and Members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies.
Additionally, the Great Lakes Commission, in partnership with other regional partners, will host a series of Great Lakes “Coffee Hour” sessions during the week of February 28 through March 4. These sessions will last approximately 45 minutes and will feature remarks from senior Administration officials and Members of Congress. More information about these sessions can be found here.
Congress Moves to Extend Funding Through Mid-March
Congressional leaders last week announced a bipartisan funding agreement that will allow Congressional appropriators to negotiate a final year-end omnibus package in the coming month. While the current numbers have yet to be released, it appears likely that both defense and non-defense discretionary spending will see equal increases in fiscal year (FY) 2022. Previously, Republicans in Congress had called for increases in defense spending before negotiations on the final spending bill resumed.
Currently, the federal government is funded through a continuing resolution (CR) that is set to expire on Friday. Last week, the House passed another CR that extends this deadline until March 11. The Senate is expected to act on the CR this week. While it seems that Congress is now on target to potentially consider a large full-year CR, the current fiscal year began on October 1, so the government has been operating at FY 21 levels for over a quarter of the year.
U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth Holds Hearing on Equitable Spending of IIJA Funds
On February 9, 2022, the U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth hosted a hybrid hearing titled “Connecting Americans to Prosperity: How Infrastructure Can Bolster Inclusive Economic Growth.” The aim of the hearing was to discuss how past federal investments in infrastructure have led to inequitable distribution of benefits for citizens and how to ensure that funding provided by the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) can incorporate equitable growth into its implementation model.
Committee Chairman Jim Himes (D-CT-04) opened the hearing by asserting that infrastructure plays a critical role in either accelerating or inhibiting inclusive growth. Past infrastructure development has fractured or isolated many communities, he stated, limiting access to economic opportunity and creating new social as well as environmental problems for residents. In the past, he continued, these consequences have disproportionately impacted low income communities and communities of color.
Testimony by multiple witnesses provided support for these assertions and proposed potential solutions moving forward. According to witnesses, incorporating citizen stakeholders into the planning process would allow communities to make planning decisions that consider the social needs of residents, not simply administrative and business interests. Multiple witnesses also suggested researching communities that were harmed by past infrastructure investment projects in order to prioritize new infrastructure that will restore economic competitiveness to these areas. Another recommendation aimed at promoting equitable growth was the prioritization of minority owned businesses in the construction process and purchase of raw materials.
Ranking Member Bryan Steil (R-WI-01) maintained support for the IIJA, but voiced concerns regarding the financing of the act and provisions which he considered extraneous, such as investing in electric vehicle charging stations. Representative Steil, along with other Republican committee members, asserted that the federal government plays too large of a role in deciding which types of projects IIJA funds will support. The emphasis on green energy investment, he stated, has led some committee members to believe that the IIJA is being used as a tool to implement Democrats’ agenda, when the bill should remain bipartisan. Witness testimony from Mr. Neal Crabtree, a foreman and pipeline welder, emphasized the contrasting need to invest in existing energy infrastructure, specifically pipelines, to avoid energy shortages and prevent supply crises like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.
There were two issues on which committee members and witnesses found mutual ground: the need to expedite the permitting process for construction projects and the importance of local/county government participation in planning and implementation. Witnesses and committee members shared goals of rolling out IIJA funds as quickly as possible, and they agreed that current permit and environmental review processes inhibit expeditious project development. Members proposed streamlining current review and permit requirements, and emphasized that this could be achieved without lowering environmental standards. County and local planning participation, witnesses testified, is vital to ensure that funding goes toward projects that fit the needs of each municipality. Local officials, they asserted, would be better able to identify community needs than agency officials in Washington, D.C. At the conclusion of the hearing, Chairman Jim Himes stressed the bipartisan nature of the bill and encouraged decision makers to focus on these points of mutual support as IIJA programs enter the implementation stage.
To access a recording of the full hearing, click here.
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