Rep. Bishop: Infrastructure bill is 'win-win' for Georgians

MACON, Ga. -- Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA 2nd District) is calling the newly-signed $1.2 trillion infrastructure billwill "present countless opportunities for people in Georgia."

Bishop, who witnessed President Joe Biden's signing of the bill on Monday, said it's "probably the largest federal investment in our vital infrastructure that we've ever seen."

MORE: Biden signs $1T infrastructure deal with bipartisan crowd

The bill aims to achieve many items such as expanding Interstate 14 designation from Texas to Columbus and Augusta here in Georgia.

Bishop said to that end, the bill also supports new inner-city passenger railroads that are expected to connect communities along I-75 in the Peach State.

The bill also includes $2 billion for broadband improvements. Bishop explained that the pandemic highlighted how vital the internet is, with students learning from home, employees working from home, patients going to appointments through telehealth, and more.

He said the infrastructure bill would expand on what the American Rescue Plan provided to the state's board of education to support those broadband efforts.

A youngster, regardless of where their zip code is in a rural community should not be disadvantaged in getting their school work, being able to do their homework, because they're not connected to the internet.

The bill also includes $40 million for bridge investments, $15 billion for airports, including regional facilities, and $14 billion for sewer overflow and stormwater improvements.

But he added that most importantly, the legislation will "create new high-paying union manufacturing jobs, which is a big, big plus."

Every community across this country, every municipality large and small, every citizen anywhere in this country will be able to benefit from the investments.

Concerning the bridges improvements, Georgia alone has 400 bridges that are rated to be either in fair or poor condition.

Aside from making these bridges safer, Bishop said the bill"will help reduce the backlog on that, it will put people to work in repairing it."

"It will just be a win-win for everybody there," he added.

The $14 billion for sewer overflow and stormwater improvements will especially help communities that have been cited by the Environmental Protection Agency for being out of compliance with clean water standards.

Bishop said that in Georgia, "we've got a number of cities, large and small, who need to take advantage of this because of our aging infrastructure for stormwater and wastewater treatment."

Another public safety investment from the bill is a $30 million boost to help local governments that need to update their emergency communications equipment.

Bishop said that many communities hit by Hurricane Michael, for example, weren't able to keep in touch with not only their neighboring counties but also first responders in their own communities due to inefficient equipment.

He said the bill"will allow to have improvements in those communication systems for our police, our fire, and our emergency responders which will make a big, big difference in the health, safety, and welfare of people all across Georgia."

There's also $5 billion set aside for electric grid improvements.

"Every time we have a storm, or hurricanes or tornadoes, we get some power outages. Sometimes during the summer, we have brownouts, where power is out and electricity is interrupted. That is a real disadvantage for businesses, for manufacturing, and just for citizens in their homes," Bishop said.

He said the bill will enhance and support the grid for those in both rural and urban areas, whether you're supported by an electric co-op or a company like Georgia Power.

Families in Georgia could also get help with utility bills because of a $500 million investment for theLow Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

There's also $500 million allocated for cleaning up schools, such as getting rid of lead pipes in school buildings, Bishop said.

Another plus for schools -- a $5 billion investment for electric buses. Bishop said that diesel buses create fumes that are harmful for riders, electric buses are cheaper to keep up, and the investments in them will also create manufacturing jobs.

Infrastructure is not Democrat or Republican. To have a bridge that's safe is not Democrat or Republican. To have highways and to have internet connectivity is not partisan. This is something that is a common hope, a common goal, and a common aspiration for each and every citizen.