With a massive appropriations package now in place for the rest of fiscal year 2020, engineering firms and contractors can breathe easier as the construction season approaches, knowing how much funding is available  through Sept. 30 for important federal infrastructure programs.

As construction industry officials wait to see whether Congress will agree to raise overall federal spending caps for fiscal 2020 and 2021, House Democratic appropriators are pushing to approve as many of the spending bills for fiscal year 2020 as they can by the July 4 break.

Chronic underinvestment has led to a D+ grade on America’s infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

As Congress hurries to its preelection recess, the list of major bills the House and Senate must pass before leaving may only include one item: legislation to keep federal agencies operating past September.