Yesterday, the House advanced the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation framework, a legislative vehicle to be used for additional infrastructure spending after weeks of back-and-forth between a small caucus of Democratic moderates and House Leadership. The group pushed for a vote on the Senate bipartisan infrastructure package before advancing the budget framework, however, conceded, pushing the vote to September 27th setting up what will likely be a legislative battle through the fall.
With multiple infrastructure packages moving through Congress in the coming months, below is a primer on the status of key municipal bond legislation and prospects for each spending package:
Bipartisan Infrastructure Package
Earlier this month, the Senate passed a $1 trillion infrastructure spending package that includes nearly $600 billion in new funding. While a new direct-pay bond was originally included in the Senate outline, the American Infrastructure Bond was removed from the package due to a lack of offsets and the inability to reach a consensus on reimbursement rates. While light on key municipal provisions, the bill relies heavily on the usage of PABs, including:
- The package would allow states to issue PABs to finance broadband deployment, specifically for projects in rural areas where a majority of households do not have access to broadband;
- Permit carbon capture and direct air capture (DAC) technologies to be eligible for PAB financing. These bonds would be 75 % exempt from the volume cap;
- The bill increases the current cap of tax-exempt highway or surface freight transfer facility bonds from $15 billion to $30 billion as proposed by the bipartisan BUILD Act (S.881). Currently, $14,989,529,000 billion of the $15 billion cap has been issued or allocated.
As part of the House negotiations this week, the legislation will be brought to the House floor by September 27th, and will almost certainly become law shortly thereafter setting the stage for the budget reconciliation package that will include additional infrastructure spending, possibly including munis, following through on the Biden Build Back Better Agenda.
Infrastructure Focused Budget Reconciliation
Following the passage of the bipartisan package, the Senate turned its attention to the next phase of infrastructure spending, a robust budget reconciliation outline that provides the ability for an additional $3.5 trillion of federal spending. While initial policy details are light by design, through discussions with key Hill and Administration staff, the MBFA and BDA believe that municipals with receive consideration in the tax title of this potential package, with House Ways and Means Chairman Richie Neal (D-MA) a key ally for the municipal bond industry, helping to guide the path.
We remain focused on the municipal provisions included in the LIFT Act which was introduced earlier this year by House Ways and Means Member Terri Sewell (D-AL). This package includes:
- The reinstatement of tax-exempt advance refundings,
- Raise the BQ debt limit, and
- Creation of a new direct-pay bond exempt from sequestration.
While we believe municipals will play a role in this package, the road towards passage will likely be narrow. Senate and House moderates have pushed back at the $3.5 trillion price tag, so we expect that to come down substantially for passage. We remain focused on the LIFT Act provisions as they have support in both Chambers and remain a common-sense infrastructure solution at a low cost to the Federal government.
The MBFA and BDA will continue to provide updates as they become available.
