December 8, 2023
Infrastructure Update
Stay informed on U.S. infrastructure news, funding, and awards with our weekly article.
Press Releases
FRA: $8.2 Billion in New Grants for High-Speed Rail and Pipeline of Projects Nationwide
December 8, 2023 | Source: DOT
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced that it has awarded $8.2 billion for 10 passenger rail projects across the country. This unprecedented investment in America’s nationwide intercity passenger rail network builds on a $16.4 billion investment announced last month for 25 projects of national significance along America’s busiest rail corridor. FRA also announced 69 corridor selections across 44 states through the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program, which will drive future passenger rail expansion.
DOT: $110 Million in Grants to Improve Safety on America’s Roadways by Preventing Deadly Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes
December 5, 2023 | Source: DOT
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced $110 million in grants for 19 wildlife crossing projects in 17 states, including four Indian Tribes. The funding is made possible by a new program in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and can support projects that construct wildlife crossings over and below busy roads, add fencing, acquire tracking and mapping tools, and more. Overall, BIL makes a total of $350 million available over five years under the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program.
NOAA: Construction Contract for New Marine Operations Center
December 5, 2023 | Source: NOAA
On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy, on behalf of NOAA, has awarded $146,778,932 to Skanska USA, from New York, to design and build a new NOAA facility on Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. This facility will eventually be the new home of NOAA’s Marine Operations Center – Atlantic. While the details of the facility’s design are still being finalized, requirements include having a pier that will accommodate four large vessels, a floating dock for smaller vessels, space for vessel repairs and parking and a building to be used for shoreside support and as a warehouse. Construction is anticipated to be completed by 2027.
EPA: $30.7 Million Available in Grants to Support Water Systems in Small and Rural Communities
December 4, 2023 | Source: EPA
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of up to $30.7 million in grant funding for technical assistance and training to support small drinking water and wastewater systems, including those in rural communities. This grant provides funding to organizations that work side-by-side with water systems by giving them the necessary tools and training to ensure communities have safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment systems. EPA is seeking applications to fund grant projects that will benefit small and rural communities.
Committee Hearings on Infrastructure:
Upcoming Hearings:
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
9:45 AM (EST) | 12/12/23
Markup: Full Committee Markup
House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
10:00 AM (EST) | 12/12/23
Hearing: Ensuring Transparency in the Federal Government: An Examination of GSA’s Site Selection for the FBI Headquarters
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
10:00 AM (EST) | 12/12/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine communities in crisis, focusing on what happens when disaster recovery funds are delayed.
House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
10:15 AM (EST) | 12/12/23
Hearing: Oversight hearing titled: "The Mineral Supply Chain and the New Space Race."
House Committee on Education and the Workforce
10:15 AM (EST) | 12/12/23
Markup: H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, H.R. 6585, Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, H.J. Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status", and H.R. 3400, Small Businesses before Bureaucrats Act
House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
10:30 AM (EST) | 12/12/23
Hearing: Legislative Hearing on 3 bills: •H.R. 5482 (Rep. Hageman), “Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act of 2023”; •H.R. 6474 (Rep. Steel), To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas; and •H.R. 6481 (Rep. Hageman), To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to reimburse the fee for an expression of interest if the expression of interest becomes inactive, and for other purposes.
House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries
2:00 PM (EST) | 12/12/23
Hearing: Oversight Hearing on “Left in the Dark: Examining the Biden Administration’s Efforts to Eliminate the Pacific Northwest’s Clean Energy Production.”
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
2:30 PM (EST) | 12/12/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine S.1281, to amend the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to provide for security of tenure for use of mining claims for ancillary activities, and S.1742, to modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain land.
Related Items: S.1281 , S.1742
House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
10:00 AM (EST) | 12/13/23
Hearing: Oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Modal Perspectives
House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
2:00 PM (EST) | 12/13/23
Hearing: Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act of 2024: Stakeholder Priorities
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Space and Science
2:30 PM (EST) | 12/13/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine government promotion of safety and innovation in the new space economy.
Past Hearings:
Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
2:30 PM (EST) | 11/7/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine causes of roadway safety challenges and possible interventions.
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
9:30 AM (EST) | 11/8/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine the philosophy of AI, focusing on learning from history and shaping our future.
House Committee on Small Business
10:00 AM (EST) | 11/8/23
Hearing: “Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Effects of Department of Energy Regulations on America’s Job Creators”
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
10:00 AM (EST) | 11/8/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine accessing clean water infrastructure assistance, focusing on small, rural, disadvantaged and underserved communities.
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
10:00 AM (EST) | 11/9/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine the implementation of federal coal mine land reclamation and abandoned coal mine land economic revitalization programs.
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation
10:00 AM (EST) | 11/9/2023
Meeting: Hearings to examine addressing close calls to improve aviation safety.
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
10:00 AM (EDT) | 11/1/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine the science of extreme event attribution, focusing on how climate change is fueling severe weather events.
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
10:00 AM (EDT) | 11/2/23
Meeting: Hearings to examine the opportunities and challenges in deploying carbon capture utilization and sequestration and direct air capture technologies on federal and non-Federal lands.
House Committee on Natural Resources
10:15 AM (EDT) | 11/2/2023
Hearing: Committee on Natural Resources Full Committee Member Day hearing.
