Chair of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Calls for Bipartisan Collaboration as New Draft Infrastructure Plan Released

Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently released a draft infrastructure plan. Earlier this year, Shuster had announced his intentions to introduce a new infrastructure bill prior to his retirement at the end of his current term.

Shuster’s new plan states the need for significant federal funds for infrastructure projects through at least 2021. The draft seeks to generate some of these funds through initiatives such as a 15-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline, and a 20-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel to be phased in over a three year period.

In the correspondingly released “Vision Statement” Shuster states that the draft is “intended to further the national conversation about the current state of America’ infrastructure and highlight some of the major roadblocks to funding and improving our transportation network.” However, he does make it clear that the legislation is still a draft. In an official press release he explained “This discussion draft does not represent a complete and final infrastructure bill. It is meant to reignite discussions amongst my colleagues, and I urge all Members to be open-minded and willing to work together in considering real solutions that will give America the modern day infrastructure it needs.”

To view the current draft infrastructure bill, click here: https://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/infra_001_xml.pdf