Congressman Garcia Helps Advance Transformative Build Back BetterTransportation Legislation

Statement

CHICAGO, IL - Last night the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I) advanced its portion of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill by a vote of 37 to 29. Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), a member of the committee, issued the following statement on the passage of the committee's package:

"Working class Latino and Black communities like mine need transformational investments in our infrastructure, and the legislation our committee passed last night is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle the climate crisis and address decades of disinvestment and neglect. This bill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand public transit and high-speed rail networks, and upgrade our sewer systems.

"The transportation sector is our country's largest source of greenhouse emissions, and from elevated rates of asthma along the railroad tracks in Chicago to devastating floods along the Gulf Coast, our communities pay the price. It's past time to break the cycle of neglect and bring our infrastructure and economy into the 21st century.

"What the committee accomplished last night advances our shared climate, care, immigration, and environmental justice priorities. I will not support a bipartisan infrastructure package or reconciliation deal that does not meet these criteria. We owe it to our children to seize this moment."

This bill invests $57.5 billion in transportation and infrastructure, including $10 billion to increase public transportation access to affordable housing, $10 billion to advance high-speed rail, and more than $3 billion to improve water and sewer systems. The investment in public transportation follows a letterCongressman García sent along with 66 other Members of Congress to Chairman DeFazio and House and Senate Democratic leadership requesting additional robust investment in public transportation in the reconciliation legislation.

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