Democrats, Trump reach tentative deal on $2 trillion infrastructure plan
WASHINGTON – Following a Tuesday morning meeting between congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a tentative deal on a $2 trillion infrastructure plan.
“We agreed on a number, which was very, very good, $2 trillion for infrastructure,” Schumer (N.Y.) told reporters gathered on the White House driveway.
He added: “Originally, we had started a little lower and even the President was eager to push it up to $2 trillion. That is a very good thing.”
“It’s about jobs, jobs, jobs. It’s about promoting commerce. It’s about clean air, clean water,” Pelosi (Calif.) said.
The meeting included more than a dozen lawmakers. They will meet again in three weeks to discuss how to pay for the plan, Schumer said.
On Monday, Schumer and Pelosi wrote Trump to outline their priorities for a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
They said the legislation should “go beyond transportation and into broadband, water, energy, schools, housing and other initiatives.” They said it should make investments in “resiliency and risk mitigation” so that current infrastructure projects can be protected from the effects of climate change.”
Trump campaigned on a pledge to rebuild American infrastructure. However, the administration’s legislative priorities over the past two-and-a-half years have largely focused on tax reform, treating opioid addiction, and attempts to find common ground on immigration and health-care reform.
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
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