Tlaib, Dingell, Kaptur, Kildee, Levin, and Stevens Secure Key Investments in Midwest in Infrastructure Bill Expected to Pass House This Week

WASHINTON – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), DPCC Co-Chair Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Haley Stevens (MI-11) announced they secured key transportation and water investments in the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act, an infrastructure bill the House is expected to pass this week that will create good-paying American jobs that can’t be outsourced by rebuilding safe roads and bridges, delivering reliable transit and modern passenger rail, and making sure every American has clean, affordable water flowing from their taps. It also invests in American manufacturing and makes the U.S. more competitive with smarter, safer, more resilient infrastructure that cuts carbon pollution.

Specifically, the INVEST in America Act includes nearly $20 million dollars in transportation and infrastructure funding Congresswoman Tlaib secured for the following projects:

• Joe Louis Greenway: $2,000,000
• Pennsylvania Road Grade Separation, On border of City of Romulus and Huron Township, MI: $15,000,000;
• Inkster Road Bridge Over the Lower Rouge River—Capital Preventative Maintenance, Inkster, MI $329,600;
• Oakland Avenue Road Rehabilitation Project, Highland Park, MI $1,212,169 and;
• North Beech Daily Road Rehabilitation Project, Dearborn Heights, MI $1,417,226.

Critically, the bill includes provisions and priorities that Congresswoman Tlaib has been fighting for since she arrived in Congress, including a five-year water shutoff moratorium, low-income water debt relief and payment assistance programs, and lead pipe and school drinking water fountain replacement. These provisions in part draw from legislation and amendments Congresswoman Tlaib has previously introduced, bringing us closer to enshrining in federal law that water is a human right.

Passing the INVEST in America Act is a step toward fulfilling many of the key priorities laid out in the American Jobs Plan by President Biden. Learn more about the INVEST in America Act here.

“The INVEST in America Act will be a critical infusion of resources for 13th District Strong and communities like it that often get left behind and less than their fair share,” said Rep. Tlaib. “I am proud that this bill contains many provisions I have fought for like a water shutoff moratorium, water debt relief, and lead service line replacement, but we have a lot of work left to do to ensure water is a human right for everyone. With the growing climate crisis directly impacting our infrastructure, now is the time for bold, transformational investment to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and prepare our communities to be resilient in the face of climate change. Our communities have suffered with crumbling infrastructure for too long, and the INVEST in America Act is a first step towards delivering the communities our residents deserve.”

“The Miller-Rotunda Bridge supports Dearborn’s local businesses and is a major economic driver for Michigan’s 12^th District, but it has far out lived it’s safe, useful life,” said Rep. Dingell. “Replacing these bridges has long been a priority for governments at all levels in Michigan and local businesses have voiced strong support as well. This project was included in Governor Whitmer’s new ‘Bridge Bundling’ program outlined in her 2021-2022 budget, but funds have yet to be approved. This federal funding is critical to restore and repair a pair of bridges that our workers and community rely on every single day, and I’m thankful it’s included in the INVEST in America Act. This is a top priority of mine, and passing this legislation will bring us closer to many important infrastructure repairs so that we can rebuild our economy and support working families.”

“Passing the INVEST In America Act is a critical first step in meeting our promise to the American people to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, support our workers with good-paying union jobs, and reduce our carbon footprint with cleaner transportation options,” said Rep. Kaptur. “I look forward to seeing the impact these critical federal dollars will have on northern Ohio, including support for the Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Jackson Street Corridor, and miles of new bike trails in Sandusky, Lorain County, and Cuyahoga County.”

“By investing in infrastructure and improving Michigan’s roads, bridges and drinking water systems, we can make our communities more competitive and create good-paying jobs. There are many lessons from the Flint water crisis, but one key lesson is that we must get more serious about rebuilding our outdated infrastructure,” said Rep. Kildee.

“The INVEST in America Act is an infrastructure bill, yes, but it’s also a jobs bill,” said Rep. Levin. “Bringing this money to Michigan will not only create good-paying construction jobs, but also protect the cars and commutes of the workers who travel these roads every day. I was thrilled to have the funding I requested for Mound Road, the Technology Corridor of Macomb County, make it into this bill. We have workers creating some of the newest, most innovative technology today traveling a 30-year-old highway riddled with potholes and patches. Frankly, we’re losing out on more high-paying jobs in these industries coming here to Michigan because our infrastructure is crumbling. We need to make this investment in our roads and bridges, in our workers and in our state’s future.” 

“The magnitude of the inclusion of 18 million desperately needed dollars to improve the Beck Road Corridor simply cannot be overstated,” said Rep. Stevens. “Since I came to Congress, I have been fighting to secure funding that had repeatedly been denied to the Beck Road Improvement Corridor, which includes my most recent request to separate the railroad crossing in Wixom. Thousands of Michiganders and hundreds of companies rely on this three-lane road every day. The crash frequency on Beck Road is ten times higher than the regional average because of the incredible volume of drivers. Expansion of Beck Road means that thousands of Michiganders will be safer during their daily commute. I am thrilled that this has been included and I cannot wait to get started on this long overdue project!”