Cornyn, Cruz vote against infrastructure bill that could give Texas more than $30 billion – By Abby Livingston (The Texas Tribune) / Aug 10 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a rare bipartisan initiative that will deploy at least $30 billion across the state to repair bridges, build roads and increase broadband internet access, without the support of either senator from Texas.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with a $1.2 trillion price tag, had bipartisan support, but both Republican U.S Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz opposed the sweeping legislation. The U.S. House is expected to pass the bill, and Biden is likely to sign the bill once it reaches his desk. Overall, it passed the chamber by a 69-30 vote. All Senate Democrats backed the bill, along with 19 Republicans.
Cornyn praised aspects of the bill throughout the negotiations before ultimately voting against it, breaking with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who he is usually in lockstep with. Cornyn cited the bill’s costs and the process by which it passed through the Senate as the reasons for his opposition.
“There’s no doubt the nation’s transportation and digital infrastructure need improvements, and Texas stands to benefit once this bill becomes law,” he said in a statement. But, while he “kept an open mind throughout the process” he voted against it.
