Hundreds of projects to improve transportation, protect water quality, and create jobs are moving forward across Wisconsin as Republicans in Congress support funding packages that force cuts to successful programs and raise costs
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
MADISON, Wis. – Two years after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed by President Biden, more than 300 projects are moving forward to make Wisconsin stronger by repairing roads and bridges, improving airports, expanding access to high-speed internet, and creating good-paying jobs.
“Thanks to President Biden and Wisconsin’s Democratic congressional delegation, communities across our state are seeing historic investments that will create jobs, lower costs, and support families for decades to come,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “From safer roads and clean drinking water, to investments in clean energy jobs, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a success and Wisconsin is better off today because of it. These are the kind of common sense investments in our future that Wisconsintes expect their members of Congress to support, yet Republicans like Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden continue to vote for harmful spending plans that slash funding for successful programs and raise costs for Wisconsin families. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s success, Steil and Van Orden should vote against attempts to dismantle it or clawback funding from these important projects.”
Congressmen Bryan Steil, Tom Tiffany, and the rest of Wisconsin’s Republican delegation at the time voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Despite their opposition, bipartisan support led to the bill’s passage making critical investments in our state possible.
Highlights of Wisconsin projects made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include:
High-Speed Internet: Funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help connect everyone in Wisconsin with high-speed internet access, closing the gap to the more than 250,000 homes and businesses that currently lack access. The bill is also supporting the 413,000 Wisconsin households who are able to access more affordable high-speed internet thanks to the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Roads and Bridge Repair: Funding for Wisconsin road and bridge repair is helping connect the state and region. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is supporting the I-19/90/94 Wisconsin River Bridges Project in Columbia County, and improvements to the I-41 Zoo Freeway in Milwaukee County, rehabilitating 11 bridges and improving traffic flow to popular destinations.
Clean Energy Projects and Jobs: The law makes critical investments to upgrade the nation’s energy infrastructure, and not only do these investments support resiliency and affordability programs, they support investments in clean energy projects that spur job growth, like ABB’s $100 million investment in a new manufacturing facility in New Berlin, WI.
Clean Water Infrastructure: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides funding to replace lead service lines across the state and provides additional resources to help communities address and prevent PFAS contamination of water supplies.
Public Transportation: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments are improving access to reliable public transportation in communities across Wisconsin. In Racine, the city has been able to expand zero-emission battery-powered buses.
[Sources: White House Investing in America Wisconsin Fact Sheet, Invest.gov]
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