Dear Friend, 

I hope you, family, and friends are continuing to stay healthy during this time, both physically and financially. While this may be a stressful time for many in our community, I want to assure you that Congress is working hard and keeping busy by voting on vital legislation that benefits all Americans.

Last week, H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act was brought up for a vote. While there were a number of good items within this bill that I support, this legislation was unfortunately loaded down with provisions that would reduce flexibility and would only serve to advance partisan agendas like many of the unrealistic aspects of theGreen New Deal. Because of this I felt it was best to vote no. 

House Democrats introduced this $1.5 trillion bill without any way to pay for it and relied on deficit spending to fund new grant programs and mandates that make it harder for non-federal partners to accomplish the infrastructure priorities of their communities. Unfortunately, this legislation does not actually address our nation’s most pressing infrastructure needs. It discourages states from investing in new highways, bridges, and public transportation and instead focuses too much on implementing the Green New Deal. I could not vote for a bill that fails to address our critical requirements, especially at such a high price tag.

Despite the significant flaws of H.R. 2, there were some common-sense provisions in this bill that could serve as the foundation for bipartisan consensus in the future. Workplace safety and upholding employee rights within our entire transportation sector is a top priority of mine and is something on which most Americans agree. Our country depends on a strong and secure transportation system and our future prosperity demands that we make the necessary reforms to ensure that the men and women in these industries are safe and have the right tools to do their jobs. H.R. 2 does address these transportation industries’ needs in those areas. This bill also contains Davis-Bacon wage protections, which are critical for Nebraska and the nation’s construction workers. We also must shore up our public infrastructure, to include our sanitation facilities and electrical grids. By committing ourselves to the task of advancing these bipartisan measures, we will pave the way for thousands of new jobs in our economy.  

For decades, infrastructure has been a bipartisan issue where Members of both sides of the aisle were able to come together and pass meaningful legislation. Current surface reauthorization programs are authorized until September 30, 2020, under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Congress must act before then to reauthorize these programs. Sadly, there was no Republican input sought in the drafting of this bill. Lately, there have been too many instances of good ideas and intentions spun into a partisan piece of legislation that has no hope of enactment. I will not support legislating in that manner.

The House leadership needs to learn from the example set by the House Armed Services Committee - that the best way to serve America is to find consensus when building solutions. not abandoning cooperation for purely partisan gain.  In a time when many of America’s transportation and infrastructure workers are already facing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress must come together to support bipartisan solutions and legislation that benefits all communities. I am committed to finding a solution that addresses our nation’s most pressing infrastructure needs in a way that brings people together.

Last week, the House Armed Services Committee also voted in favor of advancing H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The bill was passed out of committee by a unanimous vote of 56 to 0. This annual legislation, which contains a number of amendments and provisions that I authored, authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for our military. Overall, the bill authorizes a total of $741 billion for national defense. You can read my news release on the NDAA here:

Finally, I hope you had a safe and happy Independence Day! On July 2, 1776, just 244 years ago, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, the greatest document to have been written.

We remember and honor the millions of service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we have the freedoms and opportunities that we have today. We live in the land of the free because of the brave. And we must always preserve, protect, and honor our great nation and defend her still to this day.

May God bless you and your family, and may God Bless America. 

If you have any questions or are not sure where to go for help, you can visit my coronavirus webpage dedicated to resources during this time. You can also contact my office at 402-938-0300.

Sincerely,

Don

Don Bacon, Member of Congress