Hi there, John,

Today, the Senate passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal—the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure in nearly a century.

I voted YES, and I wanted to take a few minutes to explain why this legislation is a game-changer for our country:

• Roads and bridges: Today, 1 in 5 miles of highways and major roads are in poor condition. Nearly half of all bridges are at least 50 years old. The bipartisan infrastructure bill invests $110 billion in new funding to repair our roads and bridges and support other major projects, with a focus on climate change mitigation and resilience.

• Public transit: Our nation’s public transit system is failing us—long commute times, delays and service disruptions have become the norm. Some households that rely on public transit have twice the commute time. The bipartisan infrastructure bill invests $39 billion to repair and upgrade aging public transit infrastructure, modernize bus and rail fleets, and bring transit service to new communities.

• Clean drinking water: I believe every American has a fundamental right to clean, safe drinking water. Yet for far too many families, aging pipes and polluted drinking water put their health and safety at risk. The bipartisan infrastructure bill makes the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history. That includes a $10 billion investment to help states and communities respond to historic and emerging contaminants, something I have long fought for.

• Rural broadband: According to the FCC, nearly 20% of rural Americans lack access to quality broadband. That’s true in rural New York and across the country, widening the digital divide. The bipartisan infrastructure bill invests $65 billion to make high-speed broadband available to all Americans.

• Airports: Not a single U.S. airport ranks among the top 20 worldwide. The bipartisan infrastructure bill invests $25 billion in airports to address maintenance backlogs and reduce congestion and emissions near airports.

• Climate resiliency: The extreme weather events of this summer offer yet another reminder of the threat and impact of global climate change. The bipartisan infrastructure package includes the largest government investment in climate resiliency programs ever.

These investments put people to work at high wages, make our communities safer and healthier, boost America’s competitive edge, help address the threats of global climate change, prioritize justice and equity, and generate long-term economic growth.

And today, the Senate will begin work on our Build Back Better budget resolution—a transformative investment in our nation’s families and in the fight against global climate change. We have a long way to go before these pass the House and land on President Biden’s desk for his signature, but this is an important first step.

I promise to keep you posted.

With love and gratitude,
Kirsten

P.S. All of this is only possible because Democrats took back the Senate. If it makes sense for your budget, can you chip in $5, $25 or $50 to help power our work and keep the Senate blue? Here’s where you can give: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/gfs-email

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