November 06, 2021

With Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Set to Become Law, Duckworth & Durbin Highlight Bill’s Benefits for Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive more than $17 billion in dedicated funding to improve our roads, bridges, highways, public transit, airports and more throughout the state to allow for more good-paying jobs, better accessibility and investments in our local communities across the state. These improvements will be made possible once the  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is signed into law as widely expected, after being passed in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday and the Senate earlier this year. Illinois will also be eligible for billions more in competitive grants from the bill.

“No one should have to worry if the water in their home is safe for their family or if the bridge they’re driving over is safe,” Duckworth said. “With this bill, we can put our country on the path toward providing safe water, better roads and much more for our working families. This Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal makes transformative investments to enhance our global competitiveness, economic prosperity and public health and create good-paying jobs and I look forward to President Biden signing this landmark legislation into law.”

“Today, a historic deal is making its way to the President’s desk. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a once-in-a-generation reinvestment to mend our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges, expand public transit and rail, and provide clean drinking water and broadband to our communities in need,” said Durbin. “I commend the House on passing the bill yesterday and I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this landmark legislation on communities in Illinois.”

Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Illinois will receive:

  • Water Infrastructure: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal includes Senator Duckworth’s entire Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which would help rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure,  and also provides five years’ worth of appropriations totaling $1.7 billion to improve drinking and wastewater infrastructure throughout Illinois.
  • Roads and bridges: $9.8 billion for federal-aid highway projects and $1.4 billion for bridge replacement and repairs. The state will be eligible for billions more in competitive grant programs.
  • Public transportation: Approximately $4 billion over five years to improve public transportation options across the state. The state will be eligible for billions more in competitive grant programs.
  • Broadband: 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. 2,926,000 Illinoisans, or 23 percent, will be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
  • Airports: Approximately $616 million for airport improvements over five years, increasing the Airport Improvement Grant Program and creating a new Airport Terminal Improvement Program.
  • Electric vehicles: $149 million over five years to support the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the state. Illinois is eligible for $2.5 billion in competitive EV charging grants.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a modified version of Duckworth’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act to help make transit stations more accessible. It also includes a modified version of Durbin’s Protecting Roadside First Responders Act, which requires the implementation of life-saving, crash avoidance safety technologies including automatic emergency braking systems on new vehicles, funds the deployment of digital alert technology for first responders, and increases public awareness of “Move Over” laws.

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