Source: United States Senator for Delaware – Tom Carper
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today celebrated passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at the Wilmington Train Station. Senator Carper led Senate passage of President Biden’s historic infrastructure legislation that invests roughly $1.8 billion in Delaware’s infrastructure, creating good-paying jobs and a better future for families in the First State.
“In February of this year, President Biden invited me to the White House — along with a bipartisan group of my colleagues on the EPW Committeee — to discuss the dire need to work together on addressing our nation’s infrastructure needs. Building on the bipartisan work of the EPW, Commerce, and Energy and Natural Resources committees, we’ve now cut across partisan divides and delivered an extraordinary piece of legislation with historic investments in everything from roads and transit to broadband and water,” said Sen. Carper. “But let’s be clear — this legislation is the start, not the end, of our work to meet this moment for our nation. We need our upcoming budget to make bold, transformational investments that can kickstart our economy, strengthen our communities, and support our families. And, as Chairman of the EPW Committee, I’ll be working to seize this opportunity to tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and build a brighter future for all Americans.”
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would be the First State’s largest infrastructure investment in nearly a century. Specifically, the bill would:
Repair our aging roads and bridges
- Delaware has 19 bridges and more than 250 miles of highway in poor condition. As a result, the average driver pays $456 each year for driving on roads in need of repair. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $1.2 billion in Delaware’s highways and $225 million in bridge replacement and repairs. These investments would focus on addressing climate change, enhancing equity, and improving safety for all Delawareans, including cyclists and pedestrians.
Build a network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers
- As more Delawareans transition to driving EVs, they must have easy access to charging stations. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $17.6 million to expand Delaware’s EV charging network. This is critical to addressing the climate crisis and supporting American manufacturing jobs.
Improve public transportation
- Delawareans who take public transportation spend an extra 87 percent of their time commuting. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $226 million to improve public transportation options in the First State. This would directly benefit communities of color who are more likely to use public transit.
Connect more Delawareans to high-speed internet
- More than 1 in 10 households in Delaware don’t have an internet subscription, which is unacceptable in the 21st century. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest a minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the First State. 1 in 5 Delawareans would be eligible for assistance to make internet access affordable.
Invest in safe, clean water
- Communities across Delaware need help to modernize their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide Delaware with critical resources to upgrade water systems, remove lead pipes, and clean up toxic chemicals like PFAS.