A bipartisan legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden that will pour $1.2 trillion dollars into the nation's infrastructure.
Over a five year period, funds will be allocated into transportation, broadband and utilities. The bill emphasises the need for action in the sector of infrastructure.
The package would utilize $210 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief aid, $53 billion in unemployment insurance aid, and smaller reserves of money over the course of five years. President Biden compared this historical infrastructure bill to the building of the transcontinental railroad and highway system.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is aimed to improve the lives of millions in the nation with the creation of union jobs and economic growth. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., celebrated the passage of the bill in a tweet, acknowledging the historical significance and its impact on Californians.
The bill cites states below average grade in infrastructure from the American Society of Civil Engineers. In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $100 billion California Comeback Plan which invested in the state’s infrastructure. This will be supported by the additional funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“President Biden understands the need to build a climate-resilient future, and the infrastructure package passed by Congress builds on California’s unprecedented investments to maintain and modernize the state,” said Governor Newsom. “This historic infrastructure package stands to accelerate investments in our clean transportation infrastructure, help mitigate some of the worst impacts of climate change and accelerate new projects that will create thousands of jobs.”
The bill aims to reach every corner of the country in order to create “a generation of good paying union jobs and economic growth”.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria spoke to the impact this bill will have on San Diegans in a tweet.
“The infrastructure bill will allow us to rebuild our roads, invest in climate change mitigation, and create new sustainable transportation options for all San Diegans,” Gloria wrote on Twitter.
More details on how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will benefit California can be found here.
California expects to see:
- $25.3 Billion for federal aid highway appointed programs.
- $4.2 billion for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.
- $9.45 billion in to improve public transportation options across the state over five years.
- $384 million to support the expansion of EV charging networks in the state over five years.
- $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging.
- A minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state.
- $84 million over five years to protect against wildfires.
- $40 million to protect against cyber attacks.
- $3.5 million in national investment of weatherization which reduces energy costs for families.
- $3.5 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water in California communities.
- $1.5 billion in infrastructure development for airports over five years.
