Trump Infrastructure Proposal Likely on Deck for Q3, Chao Tells Senate Commerce
Expect a Trump administration legislative proposal on infrastructure “hopefully soon,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday during a hearing on Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. “Probably third quarter of this year.” She cited the administration’s recent release of infrastructure proposal principles and previously named broadband as one component of such a legislative package.
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“An investment bank infrastructure plan like the one the president is proposing is a sure loser in Congress,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on the chamber floor this week, describing “disappointment” so far. He cited proposals from congressional Democrats on infrastructure this year (see 1705240050). The Communications Workers of America “urges Congress to prioritize broadband in any infrastructure bill through a $100 billion program that includes direct funding, tax incentives, support to schools and libraries, and digital inclusion initiatives,” the union wrote Commerce committee leaders Wednesday.
“We’re going to create brand-new projects,” President Donald Trump said during an infrastructure speech Wednesday in Cincinnati. “Our infrastructure program will be based on forging new partnerships and demanding new accountability for every taxpayer dollar.” He promised the effort would cut “burdensome” regulations, and the administration will streamline the approvals and permitting process.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., wants a bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill “hopefully during this work period,” he said. He previously said he wanted to address such legislation before the August recess (see 1705110060).
Drones emerged in Chao’s testimony, an issue likely involved in FAA reauthorization. The Transportation Department and FAA are “not adequately equipped” for assimilating that technology, Chao said: “Drones are the new frontier of aviation and the administration is committed to making America the world leader" in unmanned aircraft systems. A Trump administration priority is “to fully and expeditiously integrate drones into the NAS [National Airspace System] so that they may operate harmoniously, side-by-side with manned aircraft,” she said, citing draft legislation recently sent to the Armed Services committees “for inclusion in the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.” The draft language would provide “a tailored grant of authority within a framework that provides effective oversight and protects privacy, civil liberties, and airspace safety,” she said, requesting committee support for enactment into law this year.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., asked about FAA slowness on drones. The agency is trying to be “deliberative” and “careful," Chao said. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, also probed her about recreational drone registration and recent federal appeals court ruling striking down the FAA rule on the topic (see 1705190052), which Chao said the government is “reviewing and evaluating.” Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., cited testing of drones in his state and suggested the Obama administration didn’t fully utilize test sites, urging increased use of these sites.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., raised the issue of spectrum, citing his work with Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., on expanding the Spectrum Relocation Fund to include money for R&D. Moran said it’s “encouraging” that the FAA is looking to take advantage of that pool. “The investigation is extraordinarily complex,” Chao replied of the FAA spectrum efforts, promising an answer soon.