Infrastructure Attorney Shant Boyajian Quoted in InfraAmericas

Nossaman Infrastructure Practice Group Associate Shant Boyajian was quoted in the InfraAmericas article US Senators Reintroduce Infrastructure Financing Authority Bill. The article examines legislation reintroduced by US Senators Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) to create a government authority to assist localities better harness private funds for infrastructure. The bill--S. 1168--has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Commenting on the bill, Mr. Boyajian said that The legislation could provide a benefit to sponsors of projects that are not eligible to receive TIFIA loans…and that bringing private capital off the sidelines could allow private investors to fund larger infrastructure projects, which would allow government entities to fund smaller ones. Senators Blunt and Warner introduced this legislation in 2013 and again in 2015  without success. Reflecting on this, Mr. Boyajian stated that both bills failed to advance in part because it was difficult to find the money to fund them, and…the bill could fare better this time around because there is support from the Trump administration, which is looking to find additional money to fund infrastructure projects. He added that the bill’s emphasis on leveraging private capital could also improve its chances of passage.