Senate votes to revitalize American infrastructure

Media Contacts

Agreement on transportation, water and energy is good for the country

CALPIRG

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted 69 to 30 to adopt the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a major bipartisan package for transportation, clean water, power infrastructure and broadband. The vote comes after years of failed “Infrastructure Weeks” and months of debate over President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan, which proposed funding for road maintenance, transit, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. That plan also called for replacing all lead pipes nationwide, modernizing the electrical grid, and expanding broadband.

The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, which earlier this summer passed its own INVEST In America Act with funding for clean water infrastructure, lead pipe removal, and clean transportation.

CALPIRG’s State Director Jenn Engstrom issued the following statement: 

“The infrastructure we build impacts our health and the environment for decades into the future. We applaud the Senate for recognizing that all Americans want clean air to breathe, clean, lead-free water to drink, and more options to get around. 

We are thankful for Senator Padilla’s leadership in pushing for major investments in electric school buses and replacing lead pipes to ensure safe drinking water across the country.  These investments are critical to our kid’s health as millions of children prepare to go back to school. 

The legislation voted on today will help make California and the country healthier, stronger and more resilient.”

Topics