Mucarsel-Powell wants $760 billion infrastructure plan included in coronavirus relief

Miami Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell says Congress’ response to the coronavirus pandemic should include something that has eluded politicians for years: a $760 billion, long-term infrastructure package.

In addition to short-term coronavirus responses like sending checks to every American, allowing businesses to take out no-interest loans and making coronavirus testing free for everyone, Mucarsel-Powell said the U.S. government should spend billions on building projects to put unemployed Americans to work and jolt the economy once social distancing measures abate.

The plan includes $329 billion for building and fixing highways, $105 billion for mass transit, $55 billion for rail investments, $30 billion for airports, $50.5 billion for clean water facilities, $10 billion for flood protection, $86 billion for expanding broadband access, $25 billion for clean drinking water and $19.7 billion for harbors.

“This is the time to do it,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “This is a huge opportunity to infuse the capital we will need not just in the next three months but in the next two to three years.”

The framework of Mucarsel-Powell’s plan isn’t new. It was originally announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in January 2020 as a response to President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan that went nowhere after it was introduced in 2018.

But Mucarsel-Powell wants the plan attached to the next phase of coronavirus relief, a massive legislative effort lawmakers want to pass quickly in light of the ongoing pandemic.

“We need to fix the crumbling sewage system in Miami. We need to rebuild our roads and fix bridges in Monroe County,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “This is a moment to introduce this economic stimulus package into the larger coronavirus stimulus package.”

Mucarsel-Powell said the first two legislative responses to the coronavirus pandemic are a good start. They include an $8 billion bill passed two weeks ago to expand coronavirus prevention, preparation and response efforts and an estimated $100 billion bill passed Wednesday to provide free coronavirus testing for everyone, two weeks of paid sick and family leave for certain workers, increased federal funds for Medicaid and food security programs, and increased unemployment insurance benefits.

The “phase three” coronavirus legislation currently being discussed could include far-reaching measures that were previously unthinkable to most lawmakers, such as checks to every American and industry-specific bailouts.

Mucarsel-Powell wants infrastructure to be part of that legislation.

“Unless we enact big solutions like this, we risk exponential growth in unemployment and a depressed economy,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “During the Great Depression, the New Deal renewed people’s belief in the American dream. This investment would do the same for generations to come.”

This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 4:58 PM.