On February 12, 2018, the White House released its “Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America” proposing a legislative framework for the nation’s infrastructure needs. Key components of the proposed infrastructure plan include (i) developing a new federal Incentives Program intended to spur State, local and private investment for innovate projects; (ii) streamlining permitting and approval processes for infrastructure projects; (iii) delegating increased responsibility to States and local governments; (iv) developing a Rural Infrastructure Program; and (v) improved workforce training.
As noted in the transmittal, the infrastructure framework is intentionally broad, and seeks to address traditional infrastructure systems like transportation, as well as a wider range of public needs such as drinking and wastewater systems, energy production, veterans’ hospitals, and public land use. For more detailed analysis, see Ballard Spahr’s summaries of the proposed infrastructure plan’s funding mechanisms, and the plan’s treatment of private activity bonds.
We note that the White House’s FY 2018 budget proposed significant cuts in HUD funding, including a zeroing out of public housing capital funds. There had been hope among many that the infrastructure proposal would include affordable housing, but aside from modifications to private activity bonds, it did not directly do so. It does not appear that the Administrations intends for its proposed HUD funding cuts to be addressed through infrastructure spending.