'Go big' The House will vote on $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan before July 4, Pelosi says

House Democrats rolled out a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan on Thursday that Speaker Nancy Pelosi says will be voted on before the July 4 recess.

"With the interest rates where they are now, there's never been a better time for us to go big, to think big, as the head of the Fed has said to us," Pelosi said during a press conference with Democratic leaders. "When they see the legislation and people see how it does affect their areas because – this is not just a matter of transportation. It’s a matter of clean air, clean water."

The Moving Forward Act includes $100 billion to expand broadband access, $25 billion for water management, $70 billion for clean energy programs, $100 billion in federal funding for public schools in low-income communities, $100 billion for public housing initiatives, $30 billion for hospitals and other healthcare-related upgrades and $25 billion for the U.S. Postal Service.

The bill also would appropriate $494 billion for infrastructure improvements to roads, bridges, the electric grid and transportation programs.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) addressed Republican critics who have referred to the bill as the Green New Deal 2.0 – or a redux of the 2019, multi-trillion-dollar resolution by progressive Democrats that attempted to make the world carbon-neutral by 2050. The Senate version got zero yes votes. 

"This is the application of the principles of the Green New Deal and this proves that we can both deal with climate change, fossil fuel pollution and actually create millions of new high paying American jobs. That is the promise of this legislation. We are looking at rebuilding the system in a way that is resilient to climate change," said DeFazio.

Rep. Frank Pallone, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, agreed with DeFazio's characterization of the bill.

"This is about climate change and taking action against climate change," he said. "This is a clean energy green bill."

The Democratic leaders were asked how they plan to pay for the bill.

"We propose Build America Bonds, private activity bonds, borrowing," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal. "The president, as you know, has said $2 trillion of borrowed money. He staked out that position so we think that on the revenue side, we're open to discussions and negotiations. But with Build America Bonds, private activity bonds, and some borrowing, we think by putting out our plan here, it's time to have the conversation, time to negotiate it."

Pelosi announced that the Democratic-led House plans to vote on police reform legislation, the Justice in Policing Act, before the July 4 recess as well.