On February 1, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on the future of infrastructure, focused largely on the funding of infrastructure projects.
Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), as well as numerous members of the committee from both parties, expressed support for user fees and other dedicated revenue streams to pay for certain infrastructure projects. The only mention of municipal bonds came from Ranking Member DeFazio, who suggested that 30-year federal infrastructure bonds should be considered as a possible funding option for infrastructure projects.
Witnesses included Frederick W. Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FedEx Corporation; David W. MacLennan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cargill; Ludwig Willisch, President and Chief Executive Officer of BMW of North America; Mary V. Andringa, Chair of the Board of the Vermeer Corporation; and Richard L. Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO.