[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 176 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8497-H8498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the $1.2 
trillion bipartisan infrastructure law which was signed into law by 
President Joseph Biden on this historic day last year.
  The bipartisan infrastructure law is undeniably the largest long-term 
investment in U.S. infrastructure in almost 100 years, in almost a 
century. As we all know, our great economy relies on an immense 
infrastructure of roads and bridges, freight rails and ports, 
electrical grids, access to high-speed internet, and on and on.
  Yet, many of the current systems in place were built decades ago and 
needed to be enhanced to guarantee our Nation's optimal economic 
performance.

[[Page H8498]]

  That is why, when passing the bipartisan infrastructure law, we knew, 
as President Biden said, ``We could grow the economy, enhance our 
competitiveness, create good jobs, and make our economy more 
sustainable, just, and resilient.''
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we have done that. As I explained to many of 
my colleagues last year, the Infrastructure of my home in the U.S. 
Virgin Islands has suffered extremely from systematic lack of 
investment. Our infrastructure issues were further exacerbated by the 
2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which were both Category 5 hurricanes.

  When you hear that 1 in 5 miles, or 173,000 total miles, of our 
highways and major roads, and 45,000 bridges across the United States 
are in poor condition, think about what that looks like on a hurricane-
prone island where residents may rely on a single road for passage of 
crucial resources and emergency services vehicles.
  As Americans, the residents of the Virgin Islands needed us, as 
Congress, to step up. By passing the bipartisan infrastructure plan, we 
answered the call for all Americans.
  To date, the Virgin Islands has been allocated $18.4 million, of an 
expected $96 million, to rebuild and strengthen our roads and bridges. 
In addition, over 1,600 households in the U.S. Virgin Islands have 
already enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which aims to 
provide affordable, high-speed internet to every American. That is 
about 43 percent of the total households on the island of St. John 
alone who now have access to high-speed internet.
  Turning to the island's power supply, we now have much-needed capital 
to weatherize our power lines, which will prevent outages and make the 
power grid more resilient. Put differently, we are now better equipped 
to save lives.
  In addition to these historic investments, I would like to highlight 
the announcement of two key projects:
  First, under our Watershed Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
will invest $51.7 million to reduce flood risk and damage to the Savan 
Gut area in our capital, Charlotte Amalie. The area is within the 100-
year old flood plain and has recurring flooding problems primarily in 
the central business district and local elementary school. Therefore, 
as I am sure you can tell, the completion of this project is vital to 
protecting the future of our children, schools, and local businesses.
  Second, in our Airport Project, the Department of Transportation has 
awarded nearly $4 million to Cyril E. King Airport to support its 
modernization and improve safety.
  There are so many projects that all Americans are guaranteed because 
of the work of these House Democrats, along with our President, who 
have put the people of America forward in ensuring that infrastructure 
will meet the needs of a future America.
  So, today, as we celebrate the many successes of the infrastructure 
plan, creating good-paying jobs, union jobs, helping fight climate 
change, advancing environmental justice, boosting domestic 
manufacturing, strengthening critical links in our supply chains, and 
ultimately lowering the cost of living for working families, I would 
like to challenge and encourage all of us to continue to work together 
to address the challenges of the American people, this country, and our 
world. Together, we can make a difference.

                          ____________________