Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Richard Burr
Burr: “Modernizing our roads, bridges, railways, ports, waterways, broadband capabilities, cybersecurity, and more will help lower the costs of doing business, create more jobs, and spur innovation.”
Today, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic, bipartisan bill to modernize America’s aging infrastructure. The $1.2 trillion bill, which includes $550 billion in infrastructure funding, passed on a vote of 69-30.
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and one of 22 Senators who helped negotiate the framework of the bill, released the following statement:
“This bipartisan bill is a major investment in America’s economic future. It provides the largest core infrastructure investment in our nation’s history and it does so responsibly – without raising taxes. While no compromise bill is ever perfect, I’m proud to have worked with my Senate colleagues to find common ground on an issue that affects all Americans.
“This bill is particularly important for growing states like North Carolina. As more families and businesses call North Carolina home, we have to have the right infrastructure in place to meet the needs of a growing population. Poor roads and high traffic areas cost commuters and businesses a not insignificant amount of money each year. This legislation will provide $9 billion to update, expand, and repair North Carolina’s roads and highways. It also invests heavily in airports, bridges, rural broadband access, and our clean water supply.
“America’s aging infrastructure poses a risk to our economic growth and our ability to compete globally in the 21st century. Modernizing our roads, bridges, railways, ports, waterways, broadband capabilities, cybersecurity, and more will help lower the costs of doing business, create more jobs, and spur innovation.”
Background:
H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides more than $1.2 trillion in targeted new funding without raising taxes. In particular, the bill:
- Provides $550 billion in infrastructure funding, including $9 billion for North Carolina’s roads and highways.
- Invests $65 billion in expanding broadband internet access, particularly rural communities.
- Invests $25 billion to improve America’s airports.
- Provides $50 billion to improve resilience against natural and manmade disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.
- Provides $2 billion for cybersecurity to protect the nation’s infrastructure.
- Authorizes more than $440 million for North Carolina’s clean water supply.