Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Biden Harris

Congressional Maneuvering Delays Infrastructure Bill

Senator Joe Manchin II (D-W.Va). Image via Third Way

Congress was forced to delay a vote on a bill that would have reauthorized the nation's major transportation programs last night, missing a critical midnight deadline and throwing the future of sustainable-transport advocates' priorities into doubt.

House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) conceded late last night that she did not yet have enough support to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Hopes of passing the legislation with the support of a handful of GOP centrists were dashed when the Democrats' progressive caucus made good on their months-long promise to stall the bill if Congress failed to pass Biden's social-spending package, the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act, through budget reconciliation first.

The defeat caused the immediate shutdown of much of the Department of Transportation, which analysts say will furlough an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 workers. The pausing of the at least $200 million in funding for state DOTs that the USDOT disperses each day could result in more furloughs across America unless the stalemate is broken.

The House is expected to attempt a vote on the legislation again Friday, if the Senate can broker a deal on the reconciliation package that meets the approval of both the progressives and holdout Sens. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)

After transit advocates panned the IIJA as a status-quo bill that undercut proposed historic investments in mass transit in favor of investments in highways, the bill gained begrudging support during the summer — particularly after analysts warned that likely midterm losses among Democrats could leave any future reauthorization package in the hands of the GOP. Active transportation advocates were even more supportive, thanks to the significant boosts for the Transportation Alternatives Program and a handful of other priorities buried in the legislation.

But both camps became more optimistic following the release of the full text of the IIJA's long-promised companion bill, the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act. The package, which Democrats are seeking to pass through budget reconciliation without Republican support, would pour money into Democratic social spending priorities while  devoting funds to enhancing mobility for underserved neighborhoods, reconnecting communities destroyed by highways, and more.

President Biden and Pelosi, in a gesture of good faith toward progressives, promised not to put the reauthorization bill up for a vote until the reconciliation measure passed — and, in response, some 50 progressives announced they would not vote for the reauthorization unless they kept the promise.

But that quickly proved challenging.

Even before the full text of the budget measure was released,  Manchin and Sinema maintained that they were willing to tank the entire package unless their concerns were addressed — although details remain scant on what kind of legislation would win their support.

Manchin drew the ire of progressives when it was disclosed just hours before the proposed reauthorization vote that, months before, he had secretly told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that he would not support a reconciliation package costing more than $1.5 trillion, and that he wanted the package to be "fuel neutral," meaning that certain legislation benefiting coal and fossil fuel industries would  be preserved.  That would reduce the spending measure by more than half, while undermining progressives' climate strategy and likely requiring certain programs to be thrown in the trash —  including, most likely, popular sustainable-transportation measures such as a new refundable e-bike tax credit.  

"This is absolutely absurd," Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) told CNN, in response to Manchin's demand. "The fact that one person who is not affected by what would come out of this Build Back Better Act, he's not affected by it personally, but the people in our communities all across this country are. They deserve a voice."

With the reauthorization still in limbo, the path to any successful transportation legislation just got even longer, and a raft of sustainable-transportation priorities are being kicked down the road.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Monday’s Headlines Are Dragging Their Feet

The Trump administration claims the Biden administration left them with a backlog — but they've actually been far slower at getting transportation money to states than their predecessors, a new analysis finds.

July 14, 2025

These U.S. Communities’ So-Called ‘Complete Streets’ Policies Don’t Even Deserve the Name

Any city can call itself a "Complete Streets" champion. But not all of them are walking the walk — and if they don't, a top organization says they'll no longer give them a platform on its esteemed "best of" ranking.

July 14, 2025

Communities Rally To Reclaim Streets From ICE Terror

"This is an attack on Los Angeles. This is an attack on California. On all of us."

July 11, 2025

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Battle Galactus

Like the Marvel supervillain, U.S. interstate highway system seems to eat up everything in his path. A new book explores how to stop it.

July 11, 2025

New Report Shows Pedestrian Fatalities Drop — But Experts Say Not Enough

The Governors Highway Safety Association report showed a 4 percent drop in the number of pedestrian deaths last year, putting a slow on a dangerous trend — but advocates say the drop isn't nearly big enough.

July 11, 2025
See all posts