Here's What The Infrastructure Bill Does For MI

MICHIGAN — Congress passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Friday. President Biden is expected to sign the bill soon. So what does the bill mean for Michigan?

The package is expected to create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs in communities all over Michigan, in part by repairing Michigan's roads and bridges. Under the bill, Michigan would receive more than $7.3 billion for repairing highways and more than $563 million for bridges.

"The bipartisan infrastructure plan is a win-win for Michigan because it will create countless good-paying, blue collar jobs, while helping us fix even more roads and bridges across the state," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.

The legislation also aims to making sure Michigan families have clean, safe drinking water. The bill includes $1.3 billion for Michigan’s water infrastructure. That money will used to replace lead water pipes and cleaning up contamination from PFAS and other toxic forever chemicals.

Residents in Benton Harbor are forced to use only bottled water due to elevated levels of lead recently found in the city's water system.

"Clean water is not a luxury. It’s a basic necessity for every American family. That’s why I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which will provide some $15B to replace lead lines here in Benton Harbor and nationwide," Rep. Fred Upton said.

The measure also looks to put Michigan among the leaders in transition to electric vehicles. Michigan will receive $110 million geared toward building electric vehicle charging stations across the state.

"This investment will reduce carbon emissions, support manufacturing jobs at auto plants like GM’s factory in Lake Orion, and position Michigan as a national leader in the manufacturing of electric vehicles," Rep. Elissa Slotkin said.

Michigan would also receive over $100 million to help expand high-speed broadband coverage, especially to rural communities like Livingston County, where the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments reports that roughly one in 10 households don’t have access to reliable internet right now.

"Internet access is a necessity for every American - to do our jobs, participate in school, and stay connected in the modern world," Rep. Haley Stevens said. "Michigan will receive $100 million to help provide internet access to at least 398,000 Michiganders who currently lack it, and 2,482,000 people in our state will become eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access."

However, some Michigan congressional members weren't exactly thrilled about the passage of the bill.

Rep. Bill Huizenga voiced concern over the total cost of the package.

"There was a more targeted and cost effective way to do infrastructure that was rejected by the WH and Speaker Pelosi," Huizenga said. "I will not support legislation that spends more than necessary and opens the door for trillions upon trillions of spending on liberal and socialist priorities."

Rep. Peter Meijer accused Democrats of tying the bipartisan infrastructure bill to a larger agenda, which he voiced concerns about.

"Tonight I voted no on the Senate Infrastructure Bill for two main reasons. First, Dems tied this bill with the ‘Build Back Better’ Act, which takes our country in the wrong direction by throwing hard-earned taxpayer dollars at symptoms rather than addressing root causes," Meijer said.