President Trump huddled with senior administration officials and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster on Monday to plot a strategy for passing an infrastructure package, the White House announced on Monday.
“The president had a productive meeting with Rep. Shuster, during which they discussed the president’s bold plan for rebuilding America’s infrastructure, which has fallen into an unacceptable condition due to decades of misguided policies,” the White House said in a statement: “He looks forward to working with Rep. Shuster and his colleagues in Congress to turn this vision into legislation next year.”
Trump has vowed to pursue a multibillion dollar package that focuses on repairing the country’s roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects, a concept that has garnered bipartisan support in the past.
The White House is expected to pursue an infrastructure plan shortly after Republicans pass a tax reform bill, which the GOP hopes to have completed by Christmas.
The presence of Shuster, who chairs the committee that would oversee infrastructure legislation, at the White House on Monday could signal Trump’s seriousness about firming up the infrastructure plans he has floated throughout his presidency.
The Pennsylvania Republican and the president also sat down with Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, chief of staff John Kelly, director of legislative affairs Marc Short, and economic director Gary Cohn, the White House said.
