Trump Interest Prompts Democrats to Ready Infrastructure Funding in COVID-19 Bill
House Democratic leaders plan to move forward on infrastructure funding legislation as part of the next package addressing COVID-19 when the chamber reconvenes. President Donald Trump wants the next bill to include $2 trillion for infrastructure (see 2003310070). Democrats’ calls…
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for broadband funding have grown since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR-748) last week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is “pleased” Trump “returned to his interest” in infrastructure funding because it’s “essential" amid "the historic nature of the health and economic emergency,” she said during a Wednesday conference call with reporters. House Democrats' Wednesday proposal largely mirrors the $760 billion plan leaders released in January. House Democrats’ Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act counterproposal to an earlier Senate version of what became HR-748 and included a $2 billion allocation to the FCC for schools and libraries to give students, teachers and library patrons Wi-Fi hot spots, connected devices and mobile broadband service for those devices during the pandemic. The plan includes $86 billion for broadband projects, House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey told reporters. House Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., noted reluctance by GOP leaders. Those leaders will likely “move on this issue” if the administration follows through, DeFazio said. “Republicans stand ready to work across the aisle to support the individuals and institutions that will need more help in the fight against the virus,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California in a statement. Supporters of broadband-focused funding legislation told us they view Trump’s renewed support for infrastructure legislation and Democrats’ ongoing push as signs there’s the most legislative momentum since the 2016 election. “Hopefully, this is the wake-up call” to bring all parties to negotiations, said Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Jenna Leventoff. “We need to be prepared if there’s another pandemic,” but “people are always going to need the internet.”