As reported last week, a bipartisan group of Senators, equally divided among Democrats and Republicans, along with President Joe Biden have come to an infrastructure agreement framework on the traditional infrastructure of roads, bridges, sewer, and broadband. While there are still many hurdles before this process is complete and signed into law, the bipartisan infrastructure includes:
- Modernizing and expanding transit and rail networks across the country with the largest federal investment in public transit in history and is the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak.
- Repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians with the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.
- Building a national network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers along highways and in rural and disadvantaged communities. Electrifying thousands of school and transit buses across the country to reduce harmful emissions and drive domestic manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles and components.
- Eliminating the nation’s lead service lines and pipes.
- Connecting every American to reliable high-speed internet.
- Upgrading the nation’s power infrastructure, including by building thousands of miles of new, resilient transmission lines to facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, including through a new Grid Authority.
- Making the largest investment in addressing legacy pollution in American history, a cleanup effort.
- Preparing the infrastructure for the impacts of climate change, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather events.
On Thursday, separate from this effort, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3684, the $715 billion Surface Transportation and Water Infrastructure Bill titled the INVEST in America Act by a vote of 221-201. It is unclear when the Senate will consider this legislation.
Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609 695-3481, x110.