House Passes Infrastructure Bill, Measure Includes NAHB Win on CIAC

This post was updated on Nov. 8. In the late evening on Nov. 5, the House passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by the Senate that includes a key measure championed by NAHB that will restore an exemption for water and sewer contributions in aid of construction. President Biden will sign the measure into law shortly. The vote was 228-206, with 13 Republicans joining a majority of Democrats to get the measure across the finish line. Six Democrats voted against it. NAHB supports the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, which will make much-need improvements to the nation’s roads, bridges, broadband and public transportation network. This bill, titled the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will help connect more Americans from their homes to their places of work and within their communities. It contains several provisions that will boost housing affordability, including one sought by NAHB mentioned above that will restore an exemption for water and sewer contributions in aid of construction. This provision will save some developers and as much as 40% on water and sewer costs and is effective for contributions made after Dec. 31, 2020. By including Sen.  Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) Energy Infrastructure Act, this legislation advances efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without stringent energy code mandates that will increase housing prices. The bill also streamlines the federal permitting process, which will minimize uncertainty in the housing approval process and make the homes that are built more affordable. A separate House vote on  the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act has been delayed by up to two weeks as Democratic moderates seek more information on its technical costs from the Congressional Budget Office so they can better assess its financial implications.