Senate panel works on infrastructure plan of its own

Senate panel works on infrastructure plan of its own

The Trump administration has said a big infrastructure bill is a priority, and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders reaffirmed that last week. But the administration has offered only a very general outline of what it wants. So a bipartisan group of senators from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has started working on its own plan, reports The Hill.

Other priorities will come first tax reform, and even more important, funding the government and avoiding default. Last week, a big immigration bill was released. But some lawmakers hope to get an infrastructure bill passed before construction season starts in the spring.

One bipartisan bill would create an infrastructure financing authority to help states and localities work with the private sector on rebuilding, according to The Hill. The committee has held hearings on infrastructure funding, permit approval and public and private sector roles.