Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, the House of Representatives passed the INVEST Act, a five-year surface transportation and water infrastructure bill totaling $715 billion with an additional $44 billion added to the amounts below during the amendment process. Critical items in this bill include:
-
$343 billion for repair America’s roads, bridges, and safety including:
-
$4 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
-
$8.3 billion for efforts reducing carbon pollution
-
$6.2 billion for mitigation and resiliency improvements
-
$109 billion in America’s public transportation systems, including:
-
Invests in zero-emission transit vehicles with strong Buy America requirements
-
Funding to make public transit more accessible, including increasing rural transit funding by more than 50% in the first year
-
Billions for drinking water and infrastructure assistance programs, including:
-
$45 billion to replace lead service water lines across the country
-
$5 billion for local efforts to clean-up PFAS contamination
-
$8 billion for low-income water assistance programs
-
Significant investments in wastewater infrastructure, including:
-
$2.5 billion for state water pollution control programs
-
$1 billion for clean water pilot programs and climate resiliency projects
The INVEST Act also includes critical investments to promote equitable access to the outdoors for all, including $60 million over four fiscal years to extend public transit systems to public lands and waters across the country and for long-term investments in park equity projects in our cities.
In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:
“We cannot begin to address the climate crisis without first taking significant action to protect our clean air and safe drinking water, and that’s exactly what Chairman DeFazio and Congressional Democrats are doing by passing the INVEST Act. By reauthorizing these funds, the House is taking a critical step in helping to clean up the transportation sector -- the largest contributor to the climate crisis -- and in American’s water infrastructure, including by removing thousands of miles of lead pipes.
“But this legislation is critical beyond addressing our water and transportation infrastructure; it takes critical action to protect and expand access to our public lands. These investments will bring the benefits of nature to our most underserved communities, move us closer to the goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030, and help to build a more just and equitable outdoors for all.
“The Sierra Club applauds Chairman DeFazio and Congressional Democrats for taking significant climate action in passing the INVEST Act. Congress must build on this legislation by crafting and passing a big, bold reconciliation plan centered on climate, jobs, and justice.”
###
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.