Here's what's in Republicans' new $928 billion infrastructure counterproposal

Senate Republicans unveiled their latest infrastructure counteroffer on May 27, shortly before President Biden's informal deadline of Memorial Day.

The plan calls for a $928 billion investment over the course of eight years. Here's whats in the proposal:

  • $506 billion for roads, bridges and major projects, including $4 billion for electric vehicle infrastructure

  • $98 billion for public transit systems

  • $46 billion for passenger and freight rail

  • $21 billion for safety

  • $22 billion for ports and waterways

  • $56 billion for airports

  • $22 billion for western water storage

  • $72 billion for water infrastructure

  • $65 billion for broadband infrastructure

  • $20 billion for infrastructure financing

"It's a serious effort to try to reach a bipartisan agreement," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.V.), who is leading the Republican infrastructure effort.

A construction worker climbs above a line of fencing at the site of a large public infrastructure reconstruction project of an elevated roadway and bridges in upper Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., April 22, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar
A construction worker climbs above a line of fencing at the site of a large public infrastructure reconstruction project of an elevated roadway and bridges in upper Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., April 22, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar · Mike Segar / reuters

The Biden administration offered Republicans a $1.7 trillion infrastructure proposal last week, down from $2.3 trillion — but Republicans rejected the plan, saying it was "well above the range of what can pass Congress with bipartisan support." Republicans had originally offered a $568 billion proposal focused on traditional infrastructure projects.

The White House has called for more investments in clean energy, workforce training, the care economy and industries of the future. In a press conference on Thursday morning, Senate Republicans stressed they were not going to expand their proposal beyond physical infrastructure projects and broadband.

"I would say that is probably the big question — the scope," said Capito. "We haven't been satisfied, I don't think, with the White House's response to our first initial ask on narrowing the scope."

While the White House did remove portions of its research & development and manufacturing measures for its bill, many of those proposals are already included in a separate bill designed to boost U.S. competition with China.

"We want to focus on actual infrastructure. The platforms and services that move people and goods and services through our economy. That's what people understand to be infrastructure and we can reach an agreement if we focus on those items," said Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.).

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the topline number increase was encouraging and had "several constructive additions."

"At the same time, we remain concerned that their plan still provides no substantial new funds for critical job-creating needs, such as fixing our veterans’ hospitals, building modern rail systems, repairing our transit systems, removing dangerous lead pipes, and powering America’s leadership in a job-creating clean energy economy, among other things," said Psaki.