Shant Boyajian Comments on One Year Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Shant Boyajian was quoted in the Law360 article “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: One Year Later” (subscription required). The piece takes a look at the impact the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has had one year after its passage. Law360 writes the Act is considered one of the Biden administration’s crowning achievements, and that “to date, more than $185 billion in authorizations have been announced, and the funds will be awarded to state, local, tribal and territorial governments for highways, roads, bridges, railways, ports, airports, transit systems and broader infrastructure projects…”

Commenting for the article, Shant said the administration has "exhibited tremendous determination… in quickly and thoroughly implementing the law…[it] has stood up new offices within the departments tasked with BIL implementation, has issued funding notices and begun announcing successful grant awards, and has crisscrossed the nation discussing the BIL, and meeting with project sponsors and other interested stakeholders.”

Shant also spoke about how “there still isn't much clarity regarding how the Office of Management and Budget will collaborate with other departments to administer the Build America, Buy America Act that was woven into the [Act].” Build America, Buy America Act requires using domestically sourced iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials by the entities that receive federal financial assistance for infrastructure projects. “Project sponsors and industry participants have not received information as early as would be helpful to prepare to implement the new requirements instituted by the Build America, Buy America Act. Particularly in an environment where inflation and work force shortages have already complicated infrastructure delivery, project sponsors need the ability to plan ahead and to rely on their federal partners for early implementing guidance, technical assistance, and information sharing.”