On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing to review the Trump Administration’s infrastructure principles. The hearing featured five Cabinet Secretaries, including Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Thus far, no other Congressional Committee has been able to hear the testimony from five Cabinet Secretaries for a hearing on President Trump’s infrastructure proposal.
The Secretaries showed a united front of support for the Administration’s infrastructure proposal. Within the infrastructure discussion, Secretary Perdue continues to deliver the rallying cry for rural infrastructure spending, championing three priorities for rural infrastructure:
- Rural transportation (roads and bridges);
- Rural utilities (Water, electricity, broadband); and,
- Environmental permitting reform.
Congress continues to cast doubt over the chances of passage for an infrastructure bill in 2018. After this week’s hearing, Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-South Dakota) said Congress would need to pair infrastructure spending with revenue raisers. Republicans are unlikely to support revenue enhancements and Democrats will not hand the President a victory on infrastructure headed into the 2018 midterm elections.