Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement on Senate passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021:
“After months of bipartisan negotiations, I applaud the Senate for passing the most extensive infrastructure investment our country has seen in decades. This landmark legislation will help create millions of good-paying jobs throughout our country, strengthen our national security, and bolster our economy — making us more economically competitive with other nations.
“New Jersey and our country badly need federal investment to modernize our nation’s rail and transit systems, repair our crumbling roads and tunnels and deteriorating water systems, strengthen cyberinfrastructure, expand broadband access, and combat climate change.
“The IIJA also includes key funding for Amtrak and transit that will support completion of the Gateway Program, funding for the construction and refurbishment of household decentralized wastewater systems that I’ve worked to advance for years, and a toll credit exchange pilot program, ferry operators provision, and wildlife crossing safety program based on my legislation.
“I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in passing this bipartisan legislation and look forward to following it up with a budget bill that will make significant and transformative investments to lower costs for American families, create additional American jobs, and move our country forward in addressing the climate crisis.”
Specifically, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 will include the following:
- $66 billion for passenger and freight rail including $30 billion in dedicated funding for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor that will address the region’s backlog of repairs and improve service.
- $39.2 billion of new investments over baseline funding for a total of $89.9 billion to modernize transit.
- $111 billion in new investments in roads and bridges including a $40 billion dedicated program to rebuild our nation’s aging bridges, $16 billion for major projects, and a new program for reconnecting communities that have been historically divided by transportation infrastructure.
- Authorizes $250 million over five years for a new decentralized wastewater systems grant program based on bipartisan legislation by Senators Booker and Capito for the construction and refurbishment of individual household decentralized wastewater systems for low-and moderate income individuals.
- A toll credit exchange pilot program, based on legislation by Senator Booker and Senator Shaheen. Senator Booker has long championed this program that will allow New Jersey to potentially sell their excess toll credits in order to increase investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure.
- $350 million over five years for a wildlife crossing safety program Senator Booker worked with Senator Barrasso to get over the finish line.
- $400 million over five years to create a new grant program that Senator Booker and Senator Whitehouse have championed to reduce emissions from seaports.
- Provisions Senator Booker championed to ensure that certain privately-owned ferry boats and terminals that are deemed essential to a region’s transportation network are eligible for Surface Transportation Block Grant funding to secure that ferry operators in the state are able to provide critical transportation options for commuters.
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