As congressional appropriators make more headway in producing spending measures for fiscal year 2019, construction industry officials see encouraging numbers so far for key infrastructure accounts, including highways and water programs. Some important accounts are benefiting from the 2019 installment of a $20-billion infrastructure infusion that congressional leaders in February agreed to provide over the 2018-19 period.
最新的证据是8月1日，当时参议院通过了四项单独的2019年支出措施，每个措施涵盖了一个或多个联邦机构。该措施中包含的基础设施计划包括运输和环境保护署部。
在DOT中，参议院法案为高速公路义务上限提供了2％的提升，因为2015年修复了公路信托基金授权的美国地面运输（FAST）法案。参议院还从高速公路和桥梁的普通基金中增加了33亿美元。
机场基础设施是另一位赢家，在常规33.5亿美元的机场改进计划赠款资金之上，获得了7亿美元的增长。参议院的拨款再次拒绝了特朗普政府的提议，要求零酌处拨款。该法案为赠款提供了10亿美元的赠款，该赠款以前命名为老虎。美国公共交通协会赞扬了运输计划的增加。
美国高速公路和运输部相关总承包商高级总监布莱恩·德里（Brian Deery）表示，当添加的DOT基础设施“启动器”与快速ACT基金相结合时，“这是一笔大笔资金。这是所有程序类别中的。”
The Senate bill has $300-million hikes for EPA wastewater-treatment and drinking-water infrastructure revolving funds, keeping them about even with 2018. “That is realistically what we were hoping for,” says Kristina Surfus, National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ director of legislative affairs.
尽管如此，目前尚不清楚众议院和参议院是否可以调和他们的支出法案的不同数字，并在10月1日（2019财年开始）之前就最终数字达成共识。
Looking further ahead, another $10-billion overall infrastructure bonus isn’t guaranteed for 2020. But industry officials point to lawmakers’ remarks referring to the added 2018 dollars as a “down payment” for infrastructure. Surfus says that, at least for water accounts, “We certainly hope that infusion of infrastructure program investment is going to become a new baseline.”
For DOT programs, Deery says, “Certainly we’re going to be pushing to keep the levels up in 2020.” But he adds, “When you talk about money, it’s never a sure deal.”
