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Dear Fellow Vermonter,
On Friday night, the House of Representatives passed one of the most significant infrastructure bills since the creation of the interstate highway system in the 1950s. This $1.2 trillion dollar legislation was passed in the Senate almost three months ago and will soon be signed into law by President Biden. As you know, there has been endless discussion for decades about the need to rebuild our nation's crumbling roads, bridges and water systems. Well, I'm happy to tell you that it finally happened.
At a time when many of Vermont's roads, bridges, and water systems are in serious need of repair I fought hard, as a senior member of the Environment and Public Works committee, to ensure that Vermont got its fair share of funding in this historic legislation. As a result, I’m proud to announce that our state is expected to receive at least $2.2 billion dollars – one of the largest infusions of federal money into Vermont in history. This federal investment will not just repair our roads and bridges, but will help clean up Vermont’s drinking water supply, increase access to affordable, reliable internet service, help transition our public transit systems away from fossil fuels and create many good paying jobs.
This legislation provides Vermont with:
- $1.4 billion for federal-aid highway programs over five years.
- $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.
- $21 million to expand Vermont’s electric vehicle charging network over five years.
- At least $100 million to deploy advanced broadband throughout the state.
- $83 million to improve and expand public transportation over five years.
- $355 million to improve water infrastructure over five years.
- $150 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC).
Now that this legislation is passed, it is imperative that it be implemented in a cost-effective and efficient way, with everyone at the state and local level playing an active role.
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