Speaker Ryan To “Break Infrastructure Legislation Into Pieces”

Rather than proposing a single omnibus infrastructure funding bill, House Speaker Paul Ryan says Congress should look at the process in five or six separate bills, taking individual aspects of federal infrastructure funding in the order of expiration of existing programs. Ryan’s plan begins with a short term FAA extension, since current funding for the agency expires March 30. Ryan expects a longer term aviation funding bill later this year.

Separate bills will be proposed for the Water Resources Development Act, funding ports and inland waterways; reauthorization of the FAST Act, which expires at the end of fiscal 2020; and funding the Highway Trust Fund, which is also expected to run out of money at that time. Ryan is opposed to including a motor fuel tax increase in the administration’s proposed infrastructure plan, but House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster says the president’s package should include fuel tax increases, since 31 states have already increased their taxes on gasoline and diesel fuels.