Boucher Priorities Included In The Draft House Recovery And Reinvestment Package

Press Release

Boucher Priorities Included In The Draft House Recovery And Reinvestment Package

U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives reflects his priorities, including federal investments in construction of water and wastewater systems, deployment of broadband, and construction and renovation of local schools. In December, Boucher originated a letter to the House leadership and the Obama transition team signed by 23 of his Colleagues in the House outlining the importance of funding for rural infrastructure in the stimulus package.

"In December I urged that the needs of rural communities be addressed in the stimulus legislation now under consideration, and I suggested the inclusion of robust grant funding for broadband deployment, school construction and water and wastewater projects. I am pleased that the preliminary House American Recovery and Reinvestment Act announced today includes these priorities," said Boucher.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $6 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which makes federal loans available to communities to build new or improve existing wastewater treatment systems; $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which provides loans to communities to build new water systems; and funding to support $3.8 billion in grants and loans through the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program, which provides grants and loans to communities for new water and wastewater systems.

"Adequate and reliable water and wastewater systems are essential to maintaining Southwest Virginia's excellent quality of life and to achieving our economic development goals for the region. The funds in the stimulus for water and wastewater development will assist our ongoing work to expand water and wastewater systems throughout the region," Boucher continued.

Additionally, the measure includes $6 billion for the expansion of broadband and wireless services in rural and other underserved areas. For every dollar invested in broadband, the economy sees a ten-fold return on that investment.

"The deployment of broadband in rural areas where it is not found today will pave the way for companies offering technology based jobs while also providing local entrepreneurs the opportunity to build new Internet-based businesses," Boucher explained.

The proposed legislation also provides $20 billion for school construction, including $14 billion for K-12 and $6 billion for higher education for renovation and modernization of school facilities.

Boucher said that he will now be working to maintain these funds in the final stimulus package approved by Congress and signed into law by the President. "I will now be working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives and the Senate to ensure that the final American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides this much-needed funding for broadband deployment, water and wastewater facilities and school construction," Boucher concluded.

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