California Rep. John Garamendi Secures Key Provisions in $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Bill

Strategic Insights -

House Representative John Garamendi secured key provisions in the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion investment in the nation's infrastructure, workers, and communities. The bill passes the House by a vote of 233-188 and now heads to the Senate. The legislation includes measures to rebuild California's transportation infrastructure, strengthen rural broadband, and support affordable housing. "We must modernize California's transportation network, communication systems, and address the climate crisis with infrastructure that is smarter, safer, made to last and reduces greenhouse gas emissions," said Congressman Garamendi. The bill addresses various aspects of infrastructure, including rural broadband, affordable housing, and transportation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Moving Forward Act invests $1.5 trillion in the nation's infrastructure, workers, and communities.
  • The bill includes provisions to rebuild California's transportation infrastructure and strengthen rural broadband.
  • Congressman Garamendi secured key provisions in the legislation to support affordable housing and address the climate crisis.
  • The bill measures state-by-state greenhouse gas emissions and creates incentives for best performers in carbon pollution reduction.
  • A new program to fund resilient infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change, and the bill increases funding to develop charging stations and other alternative fueling options for electric and zero-emissions vehicles.
  • The bill creates a new program to fund green materials research and deploy green construction materials and practices to create smarter, more efficient transportation systems.
  • The bill increases investment in zero-emission buses to reduce carbon pollution and triples funding for Amtrak to $29 billion over five years.
  • The Moving Forward Act prioritizes communities in persistent poverty and ensures that broadband-related support is administered in an efficient and financially sustainable manner.
  • The bill provides federal funding for projects that improve routes for mass evacuations during natural disasters or emergencies and safeguards disaster-recovery funding for California.
  • Congressman Garamendi's Made in America Act was included in the bill, which requires federally funded highway projects to use US-made and sourced building materials.
  • The bill expedites Caltrans permitting by lengthening the agreement terms for states to complete required National Environmental Policy Act work.
  • The bill strengthens San Francisco Bay Restoration by increasing the authorized amount of the grant program from $25 million to $50 million.
  • The Moving Forward Act safeguards funding for California's airports and protects the state from threats of withholding $250 million annually.

Statistics:

  • $1.5 trillion invested in the nation's infrastructure, workers, and communities.
  • $29 billion over five years for Amtrak funding.
  • 6-year agreement terms for transportation projects funded through an Emergency Relief Program to advance to construction.
  • 25% minimum reserved for rural communities to repair rural roads and bridges while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • $100 billion to promote competition for broadband internet infrastructure to unserved and underserved rural communities.
  • 66 out of 73 emergency-relief projects statewide had their 1-year extensions denied by the Trump Administration in January 2019.
  • 5-year agreement terms for states to complete required National Environmental Policy Act work.

Sources:

  • Congressman John Garamendi's office
  • H.R. 2: Moving Forward Act
  • H.R. 2838: ESCAPE Act
  • H.R. 3193: Transportation Emergency Relief Funds Availability Act
  • H.R. 3459: Made in America Act
  • H.R. 1132: San Francisco Bay Restoration Act
  • H.R. 2939: Legislation to protect California from FAA's threat to withhold $250 million annually.