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or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s floor remarks.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.),
Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today
spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, the bipartisan core infrastructure agreement. The foundation of
the agreement is based upon the EPW Committee’s Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act and the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of
2021. Ranking Member Capito, along with EPW Committee
Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) will be managing the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act on the Senate floor.
HIGHLIGHTS:
HISTORIC INVESTEMENT: “We can make a historic investment in our nation’s
infrastructure with this bill. It reflects our commitment to keeping Americans
safe, improving our global competitiveness, and growing our economy and
creating jobs. This legislation gives states both the certainty in funding to
plan for big projects and also that flexibility in spending to cater to unique
needs.”
SUPPORTING RURAL AREAS AND
FUNDING CORRIDOR H: “Rural areas can
sometimes struggle when it comes to receiving competitive grants…That is why I am
very pleased that the EPW bill creates a new $2 billion rural grant program
that will dedicate resources to something very important to me: the Appalachian
Development Highway System (ADHS) and other critical projects across rural
America. We also worked together to provide additional dedicated funding for
the ADHS in the broader legislation. So what does that mean for my home state?
That means this funding will aid the completion of Corridor H, which is the
connector to the eastern and central parts of our state with the metro-D.C.
area and opening up more opportunities for economic growth and tourism.”
PROJECT PERMITTING REFORM: “Sometimes the bureaucracy is our own worst enemy
when it comes to building our infrastructure. So I prioritized improvements for
the project delivery process to help road and bridge projects advance from the
planning stage to completion stage much more rapidly. I am excited about the
reforms included our EPW bill. Particularly, our bill codifies the One Federal
Decision policy, making it easier for project sponsors to work through the
federal environmental review process.”
WATER AND WASTEWATER
INFRASTUCTURE: “We authorized $35
billion for water projects across the country with a focus on upgrading aging
infrastructure. We invest in innovative technologies and provides assistance to
rural and low income communities to help them keep their water safe and clean.
The bill provides that flexibility so both rural and urban areas can best
address their needs…. I am glad that the overall package we are considering
represents the largest investment in clean drinking water in our nation’s
history.”
CLOSING THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE: “It is impossible to compete
for new jobs if a community cannot offer good internet service—it’s just a
necessity—causing these areas to fall even farther behind. Today education,
tourism, and health care all rely high speed internet service. Broadband is
core infrastructure. And this legislation recognizes that. The major broadband
investment in this legislation will help tremendously close the digital divide
in our country.”
WORKING TOGETHER: “The American people elected us to do this tough
work. Tough compromises are necessary to develop and pass bipartisan
bills. And I believe this legislation is a major positive step.”
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