D.C. Events Assess Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Impacts at Midpoint

What happened: Washington policy insiders offered their perspectives on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) implementation during the May 13-15 ARTBA Federal Issues Program and Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In.

Why it matters: Thirty months into the five-year IIJA, panelists discussed funding programs with the most significant impacts, the administration’s regulatory overreach, and what it will take to achieve bipartisan support for the surface transportation reauthorization bill due in fall 2026.

Among the takeaways:

• IIJA’s highway/bridge formula funds are a success, noted American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials Executive Director Jim Tymon. States have ongoing transportation projects to which formula funds are readily applied, he said.
• Discretionary grants are transformative for localities, but mired in application bureaucracy, said Parsons Senior Director of Federal Government Relations Cheryle Tucker. “That slows down spending as states have to sit on their matching grants.”
• Lawmakers must exert oversight roles. “Congress has held a lot of oversight hearings,” said Brady Kenyon, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer’s (R-N.D.) legislative assistant. “Unfortunately, the administration pursued policies outside of the law.”
• Panelists agreed that showing lawmakers the value of IIJA investments to constituents is critical to securing support for future funding.

At the TCC Fly-in, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian said IIJA funds are reaching deserving communities, while acknowledging permitting reform “is a challenge we’re working through.”