July 01, 2021

New Dems Secure Wins in Bipartisan INVEST in America Act

Coalition will advocate for NDC-endorsed priorities to be included in bipartisan infrastructure framework

Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Members joined their colleagues in passing the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act. The bill reauthorizes our nation’s surface transportation programs and makes transformative investments to update our nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, rail, water infrastructure, and more. 

The NDC has been actively engaging with Congressional leadership, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Biden-Harris administration to advance policies that modernize our infrastructure, combat climate change, and help create jobs. New Dems secured several priorities in the House infrastructure bill, including provisions that incorporate fifteen NDC-endorsed bills to build funding and financing to last; build resilient, innovative infrastructure for the future; and build with smart and inclusive planning, zoning, and development. This week, NDC Leadership Members met with senior White House officials to discuss shared priorities and the path forward to build back better, grow our economy, and ensure every American has the opportunity to succeed. 

“Infrastructure means jobs and long-term economic growth in our communities. House passage of the INVEST in America Act is a significant step towards jumpstarting these projects, getting people back to work, and revitalizing our communities following the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Infrastructure is more than roads and bridges, however. It is what connects us to our jobs, families, and lives. That’s why we need to also pass the American Jobs Plan that will help us expand affordable broadband access, create more affordable housing, and invest in our caregiving workforce.”

“The INVEST in America Act will jump start innovation that will lead to economic growth in small towns, big cities and in suburban areas like mine,” said NDC Infrastructure Task Force Co-Chair Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07). “As Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Infrastructure Task Force and a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, it has been an honor to work with my colleagues to put together a bill that addresses the different infrastructure needs in our communities, and does so in a way that is inventive, forward-looking, and climate conscious.”

“The NDC provisions included in the INVEST Act will help lay a foundation for the American people to thrive over the next five years. As Co-Chair of the NDC Infrastructure Task Force, I’m proud that all of my amendments were made in order and added to this critical legislation,” said NDC Infrastructure Task Force Co-Chair Norma Torres (CA-35).“Thanks to the Coalition’s leadership, the bill we passed today delivers for communities like mine in the Inland Empire by investing in long-term transportation solutions that will create jobs and economic growth, while addressing the challenges of climate change head-on. This is a win for the American people, and I’m thrilled that the NDC helped lead the way.”

Provisions from NDC-endorsed infrastructure bills included in the INVEST in America Act are: 

  • H.R. 2483, the Build More Housing Near Transit Act, Reps. Scott Peters and Marilyn Strickland 
  • H.R. 2833, the Reconnecting Communities Act, Reps. Anthony Brown and Lisa Blunt Rochester
  • H.R. 2177, the Fair Transportation Act, Rep. Norma Torres 
  • H.R. 1615, the Maximizing Our Redevelopment and Efficiency for Transit Oriented Development Act, Rep. Anthony Brown
  • H.R. 2683, the Helping Communities Invest in Infrastructure Act, Rep. Sharice Davids
  • Η.R. 3651, the Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development (RAPID) Act, Rep. Colin Allred
  • H.R. 867, the High Speed Rail Corridor Development Act, Rep. Jim Costa 
  • H.R. 2474, the Invest in American Railroads Act, Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas
  • H.R 3566, the National and Regional Greenways Act, Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux
  • H.R. 2991, the Connecting America’s Active Transportation System Act, Rep. Chris Pappas 
  • H.R. 611, the Rebuilding Our Communities by Keeping Aggregates Sustainable (ROCKS) Act, Rep. Gregory Stanton 
  • H.R. 1845, the American High-Speed Rail Act, Reps. Seth Moulton, Suzan DelBene, and Brendan Boyle
  • H.R. 512, the Green Bus Act, Rep. Julia Brownley
  • H.R. 3334, the Building Up the Suburbs (BUS) Act, Reps. Carolyn Bourdeaux and Lucy McBath
  • H.R. 382, the Bikeshare Transit Act, Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Earlier this year, the NDC also launched its Infrastructure Task Force and these endorsements build on the NDC’s 100 Day Agenda and Second Pillar: Modernize our infrastructure, combat climate change, and create jobs. The Coalition recently outlined the New Dem priorities for infrastructure investment and urged Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio to include these priorities in the INVEST in America Act. 

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