On Friday, November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) on a vote of 228-206. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature. This historic
legislation includes $550 billion in new federal investments and should provide much-needed infrastructure investments in Washington cities across the state. The package comes after several months of negotiations and a commitment to passing the
Build Back Better package during the week of November 15.
The $1.2 trillion dollar package includes:
- $110 billion toward roads, bridges, and other much-needed infrastructure repairs across the country, including $40 billion in new funding for bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation and $17.5 billion is for other major projects;
- $73 billion for the country's electric grid and power structures;
- $66 billion for rail services;
- $65 billion for broadband;
- $55 billion for water infrastructure;
- $21 billion in environmental remediation;
- $47 billion for flooding and coastal resiliency as well as "climate resiliency," including protections against fires, etc.;
- $39 billion to modernize transit – the largest federal investment in public transit in history, according to the White House;
- $25 billion for airports;
- $17 billion in port infrastructure;
- $11 billion in transportation safety programs; and
- $7.5 billion for electric vehicles and EV charging
- $2.5 billion in zero-emission buses
- $2.5 billion in low-emission buses
- $2.5 billion for ferries.
Of these investments, Washington should expect to receive:
- $4.7 billion for highways
- $605 million for bridges
- $1.8 billion in public transportation spending
- $882 million to improve drinking water infrastructure and safety