[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 20, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7975-H7976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, as a 50-year member of the Massachusetts 
Building Trades, as former president of the Ironworkers Local 7 in 
Boston, and as a proud member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure here in Congress, I rise in support of and in 
acknowledgement of the success and benefits to our States, cities, and 
towns, of President Biden's transformational Infrastructure Investment 
and Jobs Act, better known as the bipartisan infrastructure law.
  Signed by President Biden this past November, this landmark 
legislation continues to provide critical investments in our Nation's 
infrastructure and transportation systems, including $550 billion in 
new funding to repair and modernize America's roads, bridges, public 
transit systems, passenger and freight rail ports, airports, high-speed 
internet, and water systems.
  Importantly, the bipartisan infrastructure law also stands as a 
testament to what we can accomplish together on behalf of the American 
people when we set aside partisanship and divisiveness in favor of 
collaboration toward addressing the most urgent needs of the 
American people.

  In my own State of Massachusetts, the Eighth Congressional District 
that I represent, we are already putting historic Federal funding 
delivered by the bipartisan infrastructure law into use.
  We have older infrastructure in Massachusetts, especially the city of 
Boston, the city of Brockton, and the city of Quincy. Over $8.5 billion 
will be allocated to Massachusetts to support that infrastructure, to 
rebuild it over the next 5 years.
  In fact, this year alone, $2 billion in new Federal funding has been 
announced for our State to date, including more than $1.7 billion 
identified for

[[Page H7976]]

key transportation and infrastructure projects.
  Considering that 472 of our State bridges and more than 1,100 miles 
of Massachusetts highway has been declared deficient or in poor 
condition, this funding will not only be used for structural repairs, 
but also will serve to reinforce our coastal infrastructure against the 
devastating impacts of climate change.
  Our State has already received nearly $190 million in bipartisan 
infrastructure law funding this year to support lead pipe replacement 
and other clean and safe water improvements. This funding will be 
critical to some of our older historic cities, like the city of 
Brockton, that struggle with toxic chemicals in their water supply.

                              {time}  1100

  As it does in all 50 States, the bipartisan infrastructure law has 
already allocated approximately $534 million this year for 
Massachusetts to improve our public transportation systems. This 
funding could not be timelier for the residents of Massachusetts in 
view of the ongoing safety incidents, operating deficiencies, personnel 
shortages, and service reductions at the MBTA, one of the oldest 
transit systems in the country.
  Earlier this year, we also broke ground at a new electric bus 
maintenance facility in Quincy, Massachusetts, that will serve to 
accommodate a modern electric fleet of MBTA buses and alleviate the 
carbon footprint of our public transportation that exacerbates the 
incidence of asthma and respiratory disease.
  Just this month, our State delegation joined President Biden at 
Boston Logan Airport to recognize the $62 million in bipartisan 
infrastructure law funding that will be used to modernize and increase 
the climate resilience of our international terminal and its 
surrounding roadways. That project is expected to create almost 6,000 
jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan infrastructure law is supporting similar 
projects and job creation across this great country to the enormous 
benefit of the American people. It is also, I remind my colleagues, a 
worthwhile example of what Democrats and Republicans can do here in 
Congress when we work together.

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