Pappas Applauds Enactment of Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Statement

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued the following statement after President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law:

"New Hampshire will see significant benefits from this bipartisan legislation, which will help rehabilitate our existing infrastructure while also making smart investments in our future. These investments in roads, bridges, clean water, and broadband will rebuild our country, create jobs, and restore our competitiveness. I'm pleased the President has signed this legislation into law, and I look forward to beginning the work of repairing our infrastructure."

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will:

Increase investments in New Hampshire's roads, bridges, and transit. This legislation will invest $1.51 billion in state formula funds for highway, bridge, and transit investment in New Hampshire over the next five years, representing a 47 percent funding increase in fiscal year 2022 and additional increases in years to come.
Ensure communities have access to clean, safe water. This legislation will invest $55 billion in clean water infrastructure to eliminate lead pipes and other dangerous chemicals from service lines. The bill includes $10 billion for PFAS cleanup, including $1 billion to help wastewater treatment plants address PFAS, as well as $1.4 billion for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse municipal grant programs to help communities, such as those along the Merrimack River that have combined sewer systems make needed sewer upgrades and protect our waterways.
Expand access to broadband internet. New Hampshire will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 42,800 people in New Hampshire who currently lack it.
Build more resilient infrastructure. This legislation dedicates $47 billion to infrastructure resiliency efforts, including nearly $1 billion for NOAA coastal resilience programs.
Expand passenger and freight rail. This legislation will also implement key provisions of the Invest in American Railroads Act, which Pappas introduced alongside Congresswoman Kuster (NH-02) to help states fund rail projects like the Capitol Corridor project.
Develop a marketplace for toll credits. These provisions heed Pappas's calls to implement his Toll Credit Marketplace Act, which will allow states to sell excess toll credits to cover the match requirements for federally funded projects.
Invest in clean energy. This legislation will invest $65 billion for clean energy transmission upgrades, which will help improve grid capacity for solar and offshore and onshore wind. The legislation also includes $8.3 billion in funding for the Energy Act, including $150 million to fully fund Pappas's bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5905, the Joint Long-Term Storage Act, which was authorized at the end of 2020 to bolster our long-term renewable energy storage capabilities and strengthen our national security by establishing a joint program between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to integrate current federal efforts to develop long-term energy storage technologies.
Bolster New Hampshire's economy. These investments will add an additional $277 million in state gross domestic product each year and increase economic activity, benefitting New Hampshire residents by increasing disposable income by $104 million each year. By creating a more reliable transportation system for the traveling public, they will also increase economic productivity as costs for businesses are lowered.

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