Senator Collins Urges Colleagues to Pass Historic Investment in Nation’s Infrastructure

Click HERE to read Senator Collins’ remarks

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ remarks.  Click HERE to download.

 

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke on the Senate floor this afternoon to urge her colleagues to support the bipartisan infrastructure package ahead of the vote on final passage, which is scheduled for Tuesday morning.  The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has been endorsed by more than 100 industry associations, trade groups, and unions.

 

Senator Collins, the Ranking Member of the

Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, was part of the core group of 10 Senators who negotiated the text of the legislation.  She focused on the funding for highways and bridges and also spearheaded the broadband working group with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), which reached an agreement to provide $65 billion for the deployment of high-speed Internet to unserved and underserved areas.

 

In addition to Senator Collins, the leaders of the infrastructure negotiations included Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Jon Tester (D-MT).

 

An excerpt of Senator Collins’ remarks is below.  Click HERE to read Senator Collins’ full remarks.

 

“I have worked with my colleagues from across the aisle and across the country to produce this legislation. It will be the most significant investment in American infrastructure since the establishment of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s. This bill will provide concrete benefits for American families, as well as for our economy, by making historic investments in our nation's roads, highways, bridges, airports, seaports, waterways, rail, water treatment systems, and of course broadband.. 

 

“And, this is important not only for American families; it is important for America's place in the world. Many other countries on a per capita basis invest far more than our country does in infrastructure, including China. So this bill will help to improve our competitiveness, create jobs, and improve our productivity. It represents the culmination of months of bipartisan negotiations and truly is transformational.

 

…

 

“Ultimately, this bill is about reinforcing the connections that make our country more united. The investments in our roads and bridges will better connect our communities. The investments in our airports will better connect rural and urban regions. The investments in our highways and seaports will better connect manufacturers and their customers and their workers. And the investment in high-speed Internet will better connect family, friends, coworkers, employers, health care providers, students, and educators.

 

“This investment package is good for America. It represents a far too rare example of the two parties working together to produce real results for the American people.

 

“This infrastructure package is good for America and represents a far too rare example of the two parties working together to produce results for the American people.  It is essential that we make this historic investment. And I urge all of my colleagues in voting tomorrow morning for final passage of this long awaited, much needed bipartisan legislation.”