Sinema, who led negotiations earlier this year, spoke at today’s signing ceremony with co-author and negotiator Senator Rob Portman
Law makes historic, sweeping investments in Arizona’s roads, bridges, broadband, water systems, transit, power grids, airports, and more
WASHINGTON – At today’s White House signing ceremony, Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema touted the benefits to Arizona from her bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which she co-authored and negotiated with Republican Senator Rob Portman (Ohio) and eight other Senators—four from each party. The law, which does not raise taxes on everyday Americans, previously passed the Senate by a broad, bipartisan 69-30 vote.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sinema highlighted several of the policy provisions in the new law, and thanked the other nine Senators from both parties who negotiated the agreement.
“Our legislation represents the substantive policy changes that some have said are no longer possible in today’s Senate. How many times have we heard that bipartisanship isn’t possible anymore – or that important policy can only happen on a party line? Our legislation proves the opposite – and the Senators who negotiated this legislation show how to get things done… I sincerely thank my partner in co-leading this effort, Senator Rob Portman – whose knowledge of the federal budget is matched only by his steadfast commitment to delivering on this priority. This is what it looks like when elected leaders set aside differences, shut out the noise, and focus on delivering results on the issues that matter most to everyday Americans,” said Sinema, co-author and negotiator of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“On behalf of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, our 91 city and town councils, and more than 5.6 million residents of incorporated municipalities, we applaud Senator Sinema for her steadfast work on the bi-partisan infrastructure package… With Arizona receiving a share of $110 billion for roads, bridges, and major projects, $65 billion for expanding access to broadband, $17.3 billion for ports of entry, and $23.4 billion for water resource projects this legislative package helps address not only those issues in the state but many more. Senator Sinema is a proven advocate for cities and towns in Arizona and the shared constituents we represent. We thank her for all her hard work and encourage our Arizona delegation to support this comprehensive infrastructure package that benefits businesses, residents, and local governments who rely on robust and efficient infrastructure,” said Tom Belshe, Executive Director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
“The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act led by Senator Sinema will make historic and long overdue investments in Tribal communities. These investments will be in support of Tribal roads, clean water, broadband, security, and will help expand jobs and business opportunities on Tribal lands. We support Senator Sinema’s leadership on this effort and urge swift passage of this historic bill into law,” said Vice Chairman Shan Lewis, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, President of the Inter Tribal Association.
“I applaud Senator Sinema’s leadership in drafting and successfully passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which makes direct and historic investments that will strengthen Arizona’s energy grid, broadband, and water and power infrastructure to create good paying jobs, support local businesses, and sustainable economic development for communities all over our state,” said Arizona Corporation Commissioner Ana Tovar.
“Arizona’s job creators applaud Sen. Sinema for her commitment to bipartisan cooperation that has resulted in a bill that will make major advancements in the state’s ability to connect its rural communities to high-speed internet, to facilitate cross-border trade through its international ports of entry, to better manage our precious water resources, and much more.” –Arizona Chamber of Commerce
“Last year taught us many lessons. None more glaring than our need as human beings to connect with each other and although this commonality applies to all cultures, it’s especially important within the Latino community. Significant investments must be made in the areas surrounding our airports, roads, bridges and notably broadband. Beyond 2020, history has long revealed our need to reimagine these platforms of progress. They aren’t simply tools that help us for today…they’ll prepare us for a better, more prosperous tomorrow.” –Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“Greater Phoenix Leadership… thanks Senator Sinema for her leadership on this important legislation. This investment in our nation’s infrastructure will allow for significant improvements in our roads, water systems, bridges, and airports. It is long overdue. In addition to these necessary improvements, the practical benefits of this legislation’s passage include the creation or continuation of dependable and high-paying employment opportunities for Arizonans that have been so desperately needed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Neil Giuliano, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Leadership.
“The infrastructure bill invests in nature as a solution and will lead to clean water, resilient communities, healthy forests, wildlife habitats, and clean air we all need – and something that Arizonans strongly agree upon. It’s a major step forward for American prosperity, safety and sustainability. We are grateful to Senator Sinema for leading this effort, and all those who helped craft a bill that supports investment in our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Dan Stellar, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Arizona.
Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act law makes historic and sweeping investments in repairing and upgrading America’s critical infrastructure. Arizona’s roads, bridges, broadband networks, water systems, transit, power grids, airports, and other infrastructure would see significant upgrades and expansions through the bipartisan law.
The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes:
- Better roads & bridges: A historic $110 billion investment to repair and upgrade America’s roads, bridges, and other major transportation projects — including the largest investment in bridge construction and upgrades since the construction of the interstate highway system.
- Expanded broadband: $65 billion to deploy high-speed broadband, expand broadband internet access, and help families afford broadband service.
- Water systems: The strongest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in U.S. history, delivering clean water to millions of American families—and more than $8 billion to strengthen water infrastructure throughout the American West, such as aging infrastructure, water storage, water recycling, drought contingency plans, and dam safety.
- Specifically, this funding includes $300 million for water reclamation operations under the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan. Of this funding, $250 million is for the Bureau of Reclamation to create or conserve 100,000 acre feet of water annually for the Lower Colorado River Basin at Lake Mead.
- Power grids: $65 billion to strengthen electricity grids around the country and promote resilience of power infrastructure – this includes creating a new Grid Development Authority to build a clean energy 21st century electric grid, and substantial investments in clean energy sources like hydrogen, nuclear, and CCUS.
- Wildfire suppression: $8.25 billion to protect communities against wildfires, support wildfire recovery efforts, and reduce hazardous fuels on federal, state, and tribal lands.
- Tribal communities: $3.5 billion for Tribal water and sanitation infrastructure and resiliency, $2 billion to expand high-speed broadband in Tribal communities, and $2.5 billion in funding to complete all currently-authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements — including building out the infrastructure needed for the Southern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement with the Tohono O’odham Nation, completing the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement, and funding the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Water Rights Settlement.
- Airports: $25 billion to make America’s airports safer by repairing and upgrading airport terminals, runways, taxiways, and air traffic control towers.
- Public transit & Rail: The strongest investment ever in American public transit with $39.2 billion to expand transit systems, increase accessibility, and fund the nation’s transit system repair backlog, estimated at more than 24,000 buses, 5,000 rail cars, 200 stations, and thousands of miles of track, signals, and power systems—and the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak, with $66 billion to improve existing routes and expand to new cities.
- Clean energy: The largest investment in clean energy transmission and electric vehicle infrastructure in U.S. history, electrifying thousands of school and transit buses across the country, bolstering critical materials supply chains, improving energy efficiency, and building out a national network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Sinema and Portman began conversations early this spring on possible areas of bipartisan agreement on infrastructure investment—negotiations that eventually expanded to also include Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), as well as President Biden and his White House team. A broader group of 12 additional Senators from both parties—including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly—signed on to the proposal ahead of its formal introduction.
The legislation is supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts Tribal communities
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts wildfire mitigation
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts water systems and drought resilience
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts airports
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts electricity and power grids
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts natural resources and energy production
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts Land Ports of Entry
Click HERE to see the full text of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act