On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the Administration’s plans for infrastructure. The Secretary said the White House will be issuing a set of principles in May, followed by a legislative proposal in the third quarter of the year. Secretary Chao added the Administration’s infrastructure proposal will not include a list of projects to fund. Secretary Chao also said the Administration will propose infrastructure financing mechanisms that take the needs of rural America into consideration. Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-ID) and Ranking Democrat Tom Carper (D-DE) both said they were not waiting for the President. Chairman Barrasso said the Committee is drafting its own infrastructure bill, saying they were not going to take a delay, while Senator Carper said Senate Democrats are developing their own set of principles.
