Cornyn cuts a deal with White House on COVID-19 money for infrastructure

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Thursday announced a deal with the White House on an amendment to allow state and local governments to use up to 30 percent of their unspent COVID-19 relief funds on infrastructure, paving the way for the proposal to be adopted by the Senate. 

Cornyn’s leverage with the White House was strengthened by the support of at least six Senate Democrats, including Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who joined Cornyn as a lead sponsor. 

“Sen. Padilla and I have worked with the White House and I believe we have come up with a good-faith resolution of their concerns and our interest in getting this money to be available,” Cornyn announced on the Senate floor. 

Cornyn explained that his amendment will allow up to 30 percent — or $10 million, whichever amount is greater — of a state or locality’s unspent COVID-19 funds would be available for infrastructure projects.

He noted that state and local governments will not be required to spend any of their pandemic-relief money on infrastructure but could if they so choose. 

“This will open up tens of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects in communities across the country,” he said. “This can help critical projects that were delayed by the pandemic get back on track and put this funding for its intended purpose, the very purpose we are debating right now — to both alleviate the financial burden of the pandemic on cities and states as well as to refurbish and expand our critical infrastructure.”

Cornyn on Wednesday said that White House officials opposed opening unspent COVID-19 relief money for infrastructure projects because they wanted to maintain control over how the money is used. 

“They want to be able to call the shots out of Washington, D.C., but I think folks on the ground at the local and state level has a better idea about what their needs are than what Washington has,” he told The Hill. 

After cutting the deal, Cornyn on Thursday afternoon said he was optimistic about getting a vote on his revised amendment and that it would secure the 60 votes needed to pass.

“We negotiated the 30 percent cap. I don’t know if they’re happy, [but] that’s what we’re going to do,” he said of the outcome of his talks with the White House. 

He predicted the amendment will now pass “overwhelmingly.”

The Democratic co-sponsors included Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.).

It has been endorsed by the National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, and other groups.

Cornyn says his amendment will make it easier for state and local governments to use federal funding that might otherwise get caught up in bureaucratic delays.

“One of the things I have noticed since I have been in the Senate is frequently we will appropriate money and it takes not just months but sometimes years to get to the intended beneficiary,” he said on the floor.

He said state and local governments have immediate access to COVID-19 relief funds appropriated by the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, which they could tap quickly for infrastructure needs if his amendment passes. 

“This is money that is available immediately to our local and state officials to use now,” he said.