Rep. Jake Auchincloss on INVEST Act, Clean Energy [OPINION]

Though gridlock in the U.S. Senate has been an obstacle in President Joe Biden's ambitious domestic policy agenda, it appears he has reached an agreement with a bipartisan group of senators for desperately needed infrastructure reform. The INVEST Act, which is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives this week, will be the foundation for that bipartisan reform.

The INVEST Act is a $547 billion investment in repairing and modernizing surface transportation in America. It includes $343 billion in roads and bridges, $109 billion for transit, and $95 billion for passenger and freight rail.

This transformative legislation was crafted and introduced by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which includes Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Massachusetts), whose district includes a large portion of the SouthCoast. Auchincloss' experience on transportation and infrastructure in the public and private sector was recognized by House leadership with an appointment to this committee, making him a key lawmaker in the Democratic Party's priority legislative goals.

When Rep. Auchincloss joined me on-air recently, he was particularly enthusiastic about the act's clean energy investment and how it can catalyze the growth of the industry in Southeastern Massachusetts.

"This bill really represents a mindset shift in Washington about clean energy," Auchincloss said, adding that clean energy is "the new paradigm on how we think about R&D investments and how we are thinking about infrastructure."

With New Bedford set to become a staging area for offshore wind, and the region's unparalleled shoreline assets that are the foundation of the Blue Economy, Rep. Auchincloss believes legislative initiatives like the INVEST Act can make Southeastern Mass. a national hub for clean energy, comparing it to the economic boon that the life sciences Industry has had in Greater Boston.

Rep. Auchincloss and I discussed INVEST Act's green energy investment in depth and the other ways in which the act will provide fundamental change to transportation and infrastructure in Southeastern Mass. and the country. You can listen to the full conversation here:

Marcus Ferro is the host of The Marcus Ferro Show airing Saturdays on 1420 WBSM from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Contact him at marcusferrolaw@gmail.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.