[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic investment that will 
create millions of good-paying jobs and support America's future global 
competitiveness.
  This bill will do so much to repair our ailing infrastructure and 
will create two million labor-friendly jobs each year for a decade.
  Florida has 408 bridges and more than 3,564 miles of highway that are 
in poor condition.
  Through this bill, Florida will receive $13 billion for federal-aid 
highway programs and $245 million for bridge repair.
  Florida will also receive $2.6 billion for public transit systems and 
$1.2 billion for airport development.
  To further help us cut down on transportation emissions, the bill 
will provide Florida with nearly $200 million to support the expansion 
of an electric vehicle charging network.
  I have also heard, Mr. Speaker, from so many municipalities 
throughout south Florida who are struggling with obsolete water 
infrastructure. Thankfully, this bill provides Florida with $1.6 
billion to get rid of lead pipes and improve water infrastructure.

  For Florida's highways and byways, which are some of the most 
dangerous in the Nation, this legislation will usher in a ``Safe 
Streets for All'' program to help reduce crashes and fatalities.
  Also important for Florida, this bill provides the Army Corps of 
Engineers with $1.9 billion for aquatic ecosystem restoration projects.
  The Florida delegation expects the Corps to use a large portion of 
this money on Everglades restoration to bolster the funding we already 
secured through the regular appropriation process and get the project 
back on track.
  This bill is a big investment in surface transportation and hard 
infrastructure, but it is only a segment of President Biden's Build 
Back Better agenda.
  I am looking forward to passing the revolutionary climate and 
resiliency programs in the Build Back Better Act.
  For my own constituents and the children and grandchildren of 
everyone in this Nation, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important bill 
and the Build Back Better Act. That will allow us to truly rebuild our 
working class and set us on a path to prosperity.

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