The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has unanimously approved a bipartisan bill establishing a permanent oversight office to monitor the implementation and spending of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The new office would employ independent auditors and publish quarterly public reports on project timelines, cost overruns, and completion rates.
Sponsors of the bill say the oversight mechanism is necessary to ensure that the $1.2 trillion in authorized infrastructure spending is deployed efficiently and transparently. The Government Accountability Office has previously flagged concerns about inconsistent reporting standards across states receiving federal infrastructure funds.
The bill now moves to the full Senate, where leadership from both parties have indicated it will receive floor time before the August recess.
