The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act after previously passing the U.S. Senate in August. The bill now will head to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
The bipartisan bill aims to upgrade and modernize core infrastructure – making investments in roads, bridges, rail, ferries, ports, airports, energy, water systems, and broadband. It also strengthens electric grid resiliency and minerals supply chains, including for clean energy technologies, while reforming the permitting process and providing for wildfire mitigation. In total, it provides $550 billion in new spending over five years.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who helped negotiate, draft and pass the legislation through the Senate said:
“This bipartisan infrastructure bill is one of the most consequential legislative efforts I have worked on in my Senate career. I am incredibly proud and humbled to have played a leading role in the creation of this legislation. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act recognizes that Alaska is decades behind in having the basic infrastructure which many states in the Lower 48 take for granted. It addresses that gap by sending billions of dollars back home to put Alaskans to work building roads and wastewater systems, fixing bridges, and pioneering innovative transportation and energy technologies, all of which will benefit generations to come. I want to thank the many Alaskans who worked with me in writing provisions that address the needs of both our urban and rural communities. And a big thank you to my friend and colleague Congressman Don Young, for using his influence and platform in the House to garner support to get this across the finish line. As this historic legislation now heads to the President for his signature, I look forward to working with our federal partners to make these visions on paper become a reality.”