UPDATE as of 7/29: Last night, despite initial concerns, Leader McConnell signaled his support for the bipartisan agreement, triggering 17 Republican Senators to support the process for a bipartisan infrastructure deal to move forward. Text for the bill is still being developed, however a framework for the deal—which includes $550 billion in new federal investment in America’s infrastructure–was released by the White House last night.
The floral supply chain needs a modern infrastructure to run smoothly. But a bipartisan infrastructure bill that promises improved domestic transportation routes and investments in ports of entry has a tough path to passage in Congress.
In an interview last week conducted by Brownfield Ag News, Secretary of the Department of Transportation Pete Buttigieg highlighted the importance of the infrastructure bill to agriculture at large. Buttigieg noted the proposed $100 billion investment for roads and bridges and $16 billion for ports and waterways, stating that the bipartisan agreement would provide a more stable supply chain for farmers. In total, the package includes $579 billion in new spending, with $312 billion for transportation and $266 billion focused on water, broadband, and the electrical grid.
A modern and functioning infrastructure is vital to the floral supply chain, enabling ports of entry to process material more efficiently and improve transportation routes throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, not long after Secretary Buttigieg’s statement, a key test vote in the U.S. Senate to allow consideration of a bipartisan infrastructure proposal failed.
“Hopes for a bipartisan package are not lost as negotiations continue,” says SAF Senior Lobbyist Joe Bischoff. “But the coming days are critical, and without a deal, Senate Majority Leader Schumer has committed to moving a larger package that includes both the physical infrastructure package and the President’s $3.5 trillion American Jobs Plan or ‘human infrastructure’ proposal.”
But the path to passing the legislation is not clear. Democrats have control of the Senate only due to the tie-breaking role of Vice President Harris, which means every Democrat plus Harris would have to support the package. With a total price tag of more than $4 trillion for both the human and physical infrastructure aspects of the respective packages, moderate Senate Democrats — particularly those up for re-election in 2022 — will have a difficult time supporting it.
The prospects do not improve much in the House of Representatives either, as Democrats hold the slimmest majority in over a century. Just two or three defections out of the 220-member caucus and a $4 trillion reconciliation package fails. In addition, the policy perspectives of House members are far broader than in the Senate, where policy differences within a party and lack of party unanimity are the norm.
“Many aspects of the infrastructure package have public support and would benefit the floral industry,” Bischoff says. “However, just how Congress intends to pay for these investments remains unclear and will be a sticking point for many Republicans, Democrats, and frankly, SAF members.”
Check back next week for an update on the infrastructure package.
Katie Butler is the senior vice president of the Society of American Florists.
