Victory! – House passes $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill

Washington – The bipartisan infrastructure bill – the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – was signed by President Biden on Nov. 15.

The bill will create jobs, build our cities and improve the quality of life for ALL Americans!

The House approved the $1.2 trillion package of road and other infrastructure projects Friday, Nov. 5, after Democrats resolved a months-long standoff between progressives and moderates within the party.

The House passed the measure 228-206, prompting prolonged cheers from the relieved Democratic side of the chamber. Thirteen Republicans, mostly moderates, supported the legislation while six of Democrats’ farthest left members – including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri – opposed it.

Approval of the legislation will create legions of jobs and improve broadband, water supplies and other public works.

WHAT’S IN THE BILL
The bill includes:

• $351 billion for highways and bridges.
• $107 billion for transit.
• $73 billion for electric grid infrastructure.
• $66 billion for passenger rail.
• $55 billion for drinking water infrastructure.
• $42 billion for broadband deployment.
• $25 billion for airports.
• $17 billion for ports.
• $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations.
• $7.5 billion for electric buses and ferries.

MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS
In Missouri and Illinois, states where infrastructure has suffered from a lack of adequate funding for decades, the bill includes significant investments in roads and bridges, public transportation, broadband and electric vehicles.

ROADS AND BRIDGES
• Illinois – $9.8 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $1.4 billion for bridge replacement and repairs. The state will be eligible for billions more in competitive grant programs.

• Missouri – $6.5 billion for federal highway programs and $484 million for bridge repairs and replacements over the next five years. The state also has the opportunity to bid for a $12.5 billion investment in its bridges through the Bridge Investment Program and a $16 billion allotment for major projects aimed at economic development.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
• Illinois – $4 billion over five years to improve public transportation options across the state.

• Missouri – $670 million over the next five years. The White House estimates that 32 percent of Missouri’s public transit vehicles and 21 percent of Illinois public transit vehicles have exceeded their useful lifespans. Commuters in Missouri spend an extra 80 percent of their time on the commute, the White House said. In Illinois, that average is 68.3 percent.

BROADBAND
• Illinois – A minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 228,000 Illinoisans who currently lack it.

• Missouri – A minimum of $100 million to improve the state’s broadband infrastructure, including providing access to more than 330,000 residents who currently don’t have it.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
• Illinois – $149 million over five years to support the expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

• Missouri – $99 million over the next five years to expand the state’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

• Both states also are eligible to vie for $2.5 billion in competitive EV charging grants.