What MN Can Expect From $1T Infrastructure Bill

ACROSS MINNESOTA — The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Friday to pass the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, one of two key parts of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda. The House voted 228-206 to pass the bill, which now goes to Biden’s desk for his signature. The bill had already cleared passage in the U.S. Senate in August.

The bill makes key investments in the nation’s ailing infrastructure, providing funding for public transit, federal railways, roads, bridges, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, investment in electric vehicles, and more, according to a fact sheet provided by the White House.

Biden hailed the bill’s passage on Saturday, calling it a “monumental step forward.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Ilhan Omar was one of only six Democrats in the House to vote against the bill.

Omar and five other progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, voted against the infrastructure bill because they wanted it to be paired with the Build Back Better Act.

"From the beginning, I have been clear that I would not be able to support the infrastructure bill without a vote on the Build Back Better Act," Omar said in a statement.

"Passing the infrastructure bill without passing the Build Back Better Act first risks leaving behind childcare, paid leave, health care, climate action, housing, education, and a roadmap to citizenship."

Minnesota's other Democrats in both the House and the Senate, including both Sen. Tina Smith and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, supported the bill.

Among the funds earmarked in the bill, here’s what Minnesota can expect to receive:

• $4.5 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $302 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years in Minnesota
• $818 million over five years to improve public transportation options across Minnesota
• $68 million over five years to support the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the state
• At least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across Minnesota. According to the White House, 83,000 Minnesotans currently lack broadband access.
• $20 million over five years to protect against wildfires
• $17 million to protect against cyberattacks
• $297 million for infrastructure development for airports over five years
• $680 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state

“The need for action in Minnesota is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Minnesota,” the White House said.

“For decades, infrastructure in Minnesota has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Minnesota a C grade on its infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of Minnesota residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century."