Schneider Praises Passage of Infrastructure Package, including Critical Climate Change Priorities

Today, Congressman Schneider voted for the Moving Forward Act, a transformative infrastructure bill to rebuild American roads, bridges, schools, and more. The bill included significant provisions in the fight against climate change, including Schneider's Greener Transportation for Communities Act and Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act. The House passed the Moving Forward Act Wednesday evening by a vote of 233-188.

Schneider spoke on the House floor in support of the legislation. Video of his remarks can be found HERE.

"At home, we've seen firsthand the effects of our nation's aging and overburdened infrastructure in crumbling roads, inadequate public transit, and more frequent floods. This comprehensive package is transformative legislation that will ensure our nation's infrastructure is rebuilt to ensure our success in the 21st Century. I am particularly proud this legislation has been designed with addressing the climate crisis as a top priority," said Schneider.

H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, is a more than $1.5 trillion plan to rebuild American infrastructure—not only our roads, bridges, and transit systems, but also our schools, housing, broadband access, and so much more. By investing in families, workers, and communities across the country, we can support American manufacturing and ingenuity and create millions of jobs that cannot be exported, all while putting our country on a path toward zero carbon emissions, making communities and roads safer, and addressing long-standing disparities. It's about investing in infrastructure that is smarter, safer, and made to last.

Schneider introduced the Greener Transportation for Communities Act in June 2020. The bill was included in today's infrastructure package and is designed to promote the construction of electric charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, an effort that will create infrastructure jobs while also fighting climate change. Specifically, the bill would allow electric charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure to qualify for exemptions within the federal tax code, which allows state and local governments to use tax-exempt bonds to finance certain private projects.

Schneider introduced the Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act in November 2019. The bill was included in today's infrastructure package and supports technologies that convert industrial wasted heat to electric power. Expanding the use of waste heat to power technology would reduce emissions, save energy, and grow jobs throughout the country. Specifically, the bill would provide a 30 percent investment tax credit for waste heat to power technologies that begin construction before January 1, 2024, phasing down the credit to 26 percent and 22 percent in the subsequent two years.